Govts key to setup of a digital society
Governments are key players in establishing a digital society, with many governments in the Asia-Pacific formulating information and communications technology policy frameworks in order to create these societies, ICT experts have said.
Chris Zull, the GSM Association’s Asia spectrum director, said that the body conducted a report on the digital society policy frameworks of six countries – Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand.
"A digital society is about the interaction between governments, businesses and citizens via digital technologies, while the social and economic benefits are centred around efficiency and productivity gains, and the improved wellbeing and living standards of citizens," said Zull.
He said that there were three pillars of a digital society – digital citizenship, digital lifestyle, and digital commerce. The government of the six countries studied were turning to ICT services to help deal with these challenges.
Zull said that there were three types of a digital society – emerging, transitional, and advanced.
Thailand was ranked as a transitional digital society with personalised services that allowed the public and private institutions to interact online and in real-time such as for medical records, tax bills, and social security.
Zull said that higher connected countries had a wider range and greater uptake of digital services.
Sameer Sharma, senior adviser at the ITU’s Asia Pacific office, said that broadband was a key national priority for sustainable socio-economic development including job creation.
Sameer said fixed and wireless broadband technologies and innovations could play an important role especially with the connectivity of rural and remote areas.
