| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
APEC SME Ministers Call for Greater Networking
Between Business, Government, Trade Promotion Authorities and Banks
The 10th Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Ministerial Meeting has
concluded in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with Ministers calling for Member Economies
to strengthen networks between business owners, trade promotion agencies
and SME focused financial institutions. In the Joint Ministerial Statement,
"Strengthening an APEC Entrepreneurial Society," Ministers highlighted
the courageous and critical role played by SMEs and Micro-enterprises.
"The definition of an entrepreneur goes beyond the conventional meaning
of business owner and operator and that risk-taking individuals are the
driving force behind entrepreneurship," the statement noted. "The development
of a dynamic entrepreneurial society requires individuals who are innovative,
visionary, and ready to take the risk of starting-up a new business. "A
vibrant entrepreneurial society is central to the growth of the APEC economies.
Substantial entrepreneurial activity generates demand for new services,
products, and jobs." Ministers also highlighted the challenges brought
about by globalization and the role APEC member economies have to play
in dealing with these pressures. "To cope with the challenges of globalization,
APEC economies should focus on developing networks among micro, small
and medium enterprises (MSME) and promotional agencies, MSME banks and
MSME associations. "The entrepreneurial environment is directly affected
by: regulatory and tax burdens; labor market legislation; competition
policy and legal conditions. Each economy is encouraged to speed-up efforts
towards the removal of barriers to entrepreneurial behavior and not to
introduce regulations that overly penalize business failure." In the Joint
Ministerial Statement Ministers also highlighted the role of education
in promoting business development and stressed the importance of Members
identifying and developing entrepreneurial potential in their economies.
Ministers made particular note of the difficulties that are often faced
by MSMEs in accessing finance and encouraged APEC Members to seek ways
and means to expand financing facilities. Ministers also encouraged APEC
Members to be proactive in developing capacity within their economies
to build the capacity of SMEs to trade beyond their borders and explore
export markets. The Ministers adopted the Micro-enterprise Action Plan
that is designed to help the smallest businesses in the APEC region through
expanding access to new technologies, improving access to finance and
undertaking greater research into the challenges facing Micro-enterprises.
Ministers also expressed their ongoing support for the ongoing cooperation
between the APEC SME Working Group and other APEC fora such as the APEC
Sub-committee on Standards and Conformance, the APEC Finance Ministerial
Meeting, SME Financing Institutions, the OECD and business sector groups
including the APEC Business Advisory Council and the APEC Women Leaders
Network. The next APEC SME Ministerial Meeting will take place on October
6 to 7 in Santiago, Chile. This will be preceded by an APEC SME Working
Group meeting in Vancouver, Canada, on March 8 to 10 next year and the
second SME Working Group meeting for 2004 in Santiago, on October 3 to
5. (by Chiang Mai)
From http://www.apecsec.org.sg/ 08/08/2003
TOPˇü
ASEAN Unveils Action Plan to Protect Against Cyber
Attacks
Southeast Asia's telecom and IT ministers have unveiled an action plan
to help shield their countries' communication networks from attacks. This
follows the recent spate of computer virus attacks that caused millions
of dollars in damage. Each member of ASEAN will have a national Computer
Emergency Response team in place by 2005 to handle cyber-attacks and share
expertise with their neighbours. The ministers, who wrapped up a two-day
meeting in Singapore on Friday, are also trying to make it easier for
companies to exchange telecoms goods and services, and to invest in the
region. So they will ease product testing requirements by 2005.As a start,
Singapore will soon launch separate talks with Indonesia and Brunei on
such testing arrangements. Dr Lee Boon Yang, Singapore's Minister for
Information, Communications and the Arts, chaired this week's talks. On
ASEAN's response to the specific cyber threat, he told Channel NewsAsia,
"I look at it as a pre-emptive measure in the sense that the more we utilise
ICT, the more the Internet gets involved in our daily life and work, the
more vulnerable we are to any threats against our cyber-security. "The
ministers also discussed market integration. Asked if progress was made
on freeing up services, Dr Lee said, "Increasingly there's recognition,
especially when WTO commitments come into operation, that services cannot
be excluded and there's a consensus within ASEAN that we should also try
to minimise -- in our context the services, like telecom services, looking
at how we can further integrate our telecom sectors," Dr Lee said. "Having
a common framework for telecom equipment could be the start, precursor
of more liberalisation and more relaxation for telecom services within
ASEAN countries. "The ministers also met with leaders from the private
sector. "They highlighted for instance there should be relaxation as far
as regulations are concerned, governments should be more pro-active in
helping ICT industry leaders to reach out to their customers, to proliferate
usage of technology," Dr Lee said. "One area I thought was particularly
interesting, one industry leader point out that within ASEAN itself, there's
a dearth of ASEAN content and if you want to proliferate, want greater
usage of ICT, there should be efforts made to build up ICT content." (By
Dawn Teo)
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com 09/19/2003
TOPˇü
Establishment of An ASEAN+3 (Japan, China & Korea)
Telecommunications Ministers Meeting
On September 16 (Tues) a meeting of senior officials in telecommunications
was held in Singapore for ASEAN+3 (Japan, China &Korea;), with attendance
from the MPHPT by Mr. ISHIDA, Director-General of the International Affairs
Department, Telecommunications Bureau, and officials from the telecommunications
ministries in ASEAN, China and Korea. Discussions were held on cooperation
between ASEAN and Japan, China and Korea, in the field of info-communications.
As a result of this meeting, agreement was reached to organize an ASEAN+3
Telecommunications Ministers Meeting starting next year, further strengthen
cooperation between ASEAN countries and Japan, China and Korea in the
field of info-communications, and promote an approach for the development
of the Asian region. In addition, agreement was reached at this meeting
to work in conjunction with ASEAN countries to promote anew the Asia Broadband
Program that was formulated by the MPHPT and relevant offices and ministries
and announced on March 28,2003.
From http://www.soumu.go.jp/ 09/17/2003
TOPˇü
E-Government Experience Shared
The Director of Information Technology Services, Mr Alan Wong Chi-kong,
shared Hong Kong's experience of the development of e-government in a
business round table today. Staged in Hong Kong, the Asia Information,
Communication and Technology (ICT) Confederation Business Round Table
has gathered industry practitioners and policy makers in Asia to exchange
views on e-government development objectives and strategies, policies
and incentives as well as ICT business opportunities. "The Government
of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is committed to making
Hong Kong a leading e-business community and digital city in the globally
connected world," Mr Wong said. Noting that the Digital 21 Information
Technology (IT) Strategy had achieved encouraging progress in promoting
the use of IT in the community, he introduced to the participants some
recent initiatives launched by the Government. A Working Group on the
Promotion of Wireless Services and Technology was established under the
Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee. The Working Group will
look at ways to enhance the adoption of wireless technology at the enterprise
level. The Government is also setting up a Wireless Solutions Development
Centre at the Cyberport to promote the development of mobile and wireless
applications in Hong Kong. Another important IT initiative in Hong Kong
is the Smart Identity (ID) Card replacement exercise recently rolled out.
"We believe that the Multi-Application Smart ID Card has great potential
to help business sectors, public organisations and government departments
to deliver electronic services in a more secure, efficient and cost-effective
manner on a common and convenient platform," Mr Wong said. The round table
is being held concurrently with the Hong Kong International Computer Conference
2003. Organised by the Hong Kong Computer Society, the conference closed
today and was attended by more than 500 IT experts and practitioners.
The theme of the conference this year was "IT - Impetus to Economic Prosperity".
Mr Wong, who was also the chairperson of the conference, said IT was a
powerful engine for revitalising enterprises and empowering individuals
to achieve higher productivity and greater efficiency. Various topics
were covered in the conference, including IT in education and the integration
of IT in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta.
From http://www.info.gov.hk/ 09/25/2003
TOPˇü
Benefits of e-Government Services to Be Shared
Across All Sectors of the Community - Topic for APEC Internet Forum
Building awareness and developing standards to protect the rights of
all sectors of the community to access online resources will be the focus
of the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APEC TEL)
"Web Site Accessibility Seminar" in Chinese Taipei on October 4. The dramatic
growth of government services provided online has made life easier for
millions of people around the APEC Region but at the same time there is
concern that e-government expansion could reduce access to government
services for some members of the community. Director of the Asia Oceania
Electronic Marketplace Association, Michael Baker, said the "APEC Web
Accessibility Seminar" will bring together experts from the private sector
and government to identify minimum recommended standards for ensuring
universal access to online resources. "In the physical world we assist
handicapped citizens by providing ramps, elevators and Braille signs in
public facilities," Baker said. "In the online world we must strive to
provide universal access, regardless of age, disability, culture, language,
literacy, and computer skills. "Putting up a website is only a first step
in building an online presence. Making it usable and accessible to everyone
is the critical next step, and in many APEC economies, it is now the law."
Mr. Baker said that as the Internet has penetrated all facets of life,
"website accessibility is increasingly considered a civil right and laws
are being passed in many economies to ensure compliance." In Australia,
a person won a complaint of web inaccessibility against the Sydney Organizing
Committee for the Olympic Games under the Disability Discrimination Act
(DDA). In the United States the applicability of the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) to web sites has been addressed in documents and case law. America
Online (AOL) has settled a lawsuit with the National Federation of the
Blind (NFB). Major US banks have signed agreements to provide accessible
online banking. This APEC TEL seminar will feature speakers who have experience
in dealing with website access issues in the APEC Region including senior
personnel from private sector firms including IBM and Microsoft, and from
the Chinese Taipei, Australian and Mexican Governments. The "Website Accessibility
Seminar" will take place as part of the 28th APEC TEL Meeting on October
4 - 10 in Taipei, Chinese Taipei.
From http://www.apecsec.org.sg/ 10/03/2003
TOPˇü
Shanghai to Host Key E-Forum
China's second international conference on e-government technology will
be held in Shanghai on December 17-20, with an expected 100,000 people
visiting, the Chinese Academy of Sciences said yesterday. The meeting,
initiated by the CAS, will be co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science
and Technology, the Shanghai municipal government, the China Association
for Science and Technology, and the China Council for the Promotion of
International Trade. The organizers said the meeting would include two
exhibitions, and six forums and special programs. The forums will cover
planning for China's e-government development, international exchange
of e-government technology, e-government safety, infrastructure construction,
sharing of government information, and construction of digitized cities.
It is estimated that China will invest more than 25 million yuan (US$3
million) annually in e-government construction in the coming years. The
first e-government conference was held in Beijing last year. The Website
is www.egovchina.org.
From http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/ 10/18/2003
TOPˇü
APEC E-commerce Expo Rescheduled for Next June
The APEC e-commerce exposition, first scheduled for April but postponed
because of SARS, has been rescheduled in the seaside city of Yantai, east
China's Shandong Province, for June 15 to 19, next year, as approved by
the APEC trade ministers' meeting and the Chinese government. Officials
of the organizing committee said the exposition was the first major event
in e-commerce sponsored by the Asian and Pacific Economic Cooperation
forum (APEC). The expo would feature the theme, "Digital APEC embracing
tomorrow", and would show the latest developments of IT industries of
APEC members and e-commerce modes. The event would also help promote investment
and cooperation in e-commerce and raise e- commerce development among
small and medium-sized enterprises, said officials. The expo will be jointly
sponsored by APEC, China's Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Information
Industry, and the People's Government of Shandong Province.
From China Daily 09/01/2003
TOPˇü
IT Sector to Create 300,000 Jobs by 2007
The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) is taking steps to
create 300,000 technology jobs by 2007, as the current employment outlook
remains bleak in general, said the ministry yesterday. Under the plan,
the ministry will spend a total of 46 billion won ($39.2 million) in implementing
a government-funded database project, saying it could boost short-term
technology job hiring. In addition, the ministry will encourage technology
companies to hire more job seekers by offering tax incentives and other
compensation. South Koreans in their 20s, who are the children of those
born during the first baby boom that followed the 1950-53 Korean War,
are facing some of the most alarming unemployment statistics. As of the
end of July, the jobless rate for those in their 20s stood at 7.5 percent,
twice the national unemployment rate.
From The Korea Times 09/18/2003
TOPˇü
Asia-Pac Virus Early Warning System Planned
SINGAPORE: South-East Asian information and communications ministers
announced plans to establish a computer virus early-warning system and
to form specialist emergency response teams to deal with cyber-attacks.Members
of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) hope by next year
to have a framework for sharing real-time information on computer threats
and vulnerability assessments, the ministers said after a two-day meeting
here. By 2005, all of ASEAN's 10 members are expected to have set up Computer
Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) to deal with hacker or virus attacks.
Each CERT will be linked to the regional framework to form an ASEAN-wide
network, the ministers said. "The national CERTs of each ASEAN country
will create a specialist group trained and equipped to deal with cyber-security
threats," Singapore Information, Communications and Arts Minister Lee
Boon Yang said. "The intention is that, having been alerted or having
experienced such computer virus attacks, the CERTs will immediately be
able to use this common framework to share experiences and alert ASEAN
partners to the nature of the threats. "Everybody gets an early warning
and begins to take action to prevent the spread of the virus." Philippines
Transportation and Communications Under-Secretary Virgilio Pena said six
of ASEAN's 10 members had already set up computer specialist teams. ASEAN
members were at "various stages" of co-ordination with the private sector
to develop CERTs, he said. The ultimate plan was to link an ASEAN-wide
CERT network with similar frameworks in the Asia-Pacific region and globally,
Mr Pena said. In his keynote address to the meeting on Thursday, Singapore
Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said South-East Asia must develop a "common
and sustained" approach to protection of telecommunications and computer
networks from virus and hacker attacks. Mr Goh said attacks by three computer
viruses last month had cost an estimated $US800 million ($1.17 billion)
in damages globally, underscoring the challenges facing modern technological
societies. National CERTs swung into action during these virus attacks,
but there had been no co-operation among ASEAN members, Mr Pena said.
"We are trying to connect the CERTs of ASEAN countries so there will be
international early-warning signals," he said. Mr Lee said lack of regional
co-operation would make ASEAN "much weaker" in dealing with the problem".
"The resilience of ASEAN depends very much on our ability to share information
on a timely basis," he said. The ministers also agreed to expedite bilateral
arrangements for regional recognition of tests on telecommunications products
in the various countries, to save costs and spur trade flows. Mr Lee said
Singapore would launch talks for mutual recognition arrangements with
Brunei and Indonesia by next year, hoping to encourage other ASEAN members
to begin their own initiatives leading to a regional network of MRAs Australia
has been pushing for CERTs in Asia-Pacific countries, along the lines
of AUSCERT, in an effort to combat hacking and virus attacks, and has
provided AusAID funds for CERT training in Papua-New Guinea, the Philippines,
Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand. That funding followed a call by Communications
Minister Richard Alston at an APEC meeting in Shanghai last year for co-operation
on IT security issues. The APEC meeting identified security as a top priority
for members. (by Martin Abbugao)
From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 09/23/2003
TOPˇü
World Cyber Games 2003 Finals at Olympic Park
With the catchphrase "Beyond the Game," the third World Cyber Games grand
finals are to take place from Oct. 12 to 18 at Olympic Park in Jamsil,
southeastern Seoul. About 600 gamers coming from 55 countries will compete
for the grand prize in this international games competition. Participating
nations include the last WCG championship countries like the United States,
Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom and China. Other countries include
first-time participants such as Iran, Ecuador, Latvia and Guatemala. The
prize money totals US$350,000. During the seven-day event, conferences
and exhibitions, as well as various cultural events including "Love Seoul
Culture Parade," will be held in addition to the competition. Admission
fee is free. Those with prize tickets will have the opportunity to win
a trip to Paris, or a laptop, digital cameras or cellular phone, among
others. The WCG was initiated in 2000 for the first time in Korea. The
Seoul Metropolitan Government and the WCG organizing committee on Feb.
10 signed an agreement to jointly hold the final games in Seoul. The WCG
2004 will be held in San Francisco, the United States. In the closing
ceremony to be held Oct. 18, Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak is scheduled to
play "StarCraft," one of the most popular online games in the world.
From http://english.metro.seoul.kr/ 10/10/2003
TOPˇü
Expert Group Meeting on Regional Roadmap Towards
Information Society for Asia and the Pacific and Fifth Regional Interagency
Working Group Meeting on ICTUNCC
Despite its limitless potential, Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) is still not being fully utilized to benefit humanity, according
to ICT experts at a regional United Nations meeting in Bangkok this week.
Delegates at the Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Regional Roadmap towards
Information Society for Asia and the Pacific (13-15 August) expressed
deep concern over the lack of access that many developing countries have
to new technology and the increasing gap between the digital 'haves' and
'have-nots'. Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive-Secretary of the UN Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), said the quality
of life for many people in the Asia-Pacific region was suffering due to
the unequal distribution of technology. "ICT has a great potential to
facilitate the achievement of the United Nations' Millennium Development
Goals, particularly, to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environment
degradation and gender inequality. "Yet, despite significant efforts at
the national and regional levels, we are still very far from ensuring
that the benefits of ICT are available to all in Asia and the Pacific.
This is partly because the Digital Divide is a reflection of the economic
and social divides of poverty, illiteracy, and access to health care,"
he said. Over 60 senior government representatives, ICT experts, members
of telecommunications groups and representatives of regional and global
organizations attended the meeting, jointly organized by UNESCAP, Asia
Pacific Telecommunity (APT), and the International Telecommunications
Union (ITU). The group was optimistic about the prospect of ICT development,
and said progress could be made through concrete cross-country strategies
despite the lack of regional infrastructure, education, investment, technology
and connectivity. "How we can bridge or narrow the digital divide, and
create digital opportunities by providing equitable, affordable and universal
access to ICT to all in the region is a real challenge for us," said Mr.
Kim. "Towards that end, concerted efforts must be made at the national,
regional and global levels, to enhance cooperation, and share relevant
and timely information and knowledge towards the creation of the information
and knowledge-based society in the region." The delegates met to take
stock of the current regional ICT initiatives, such as the Tokyo Declaration
(2003) and the Bishkek Declaration, and to translate them into a regional
"roadmap" with achievable benchmarks that will ultimately bridge the digital
divide. Key recommendations include; promoting private sector investment
in ICT development, establishing technology training for the workforce,
and using ICT in delivering public services like health and education.
The delegates were also concerned with boosting public confidence in ICT
by creating comprehensive data and information security, and encouraging
ICT competition in developing countries. The Expert Group Meeting on Regional
Roadmap towards Information Society for Asia and the Pacific and Fifth
Regional Interagency Working Group Meeting on ICT was part of the preparatory
process ahead of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in
Geneva in December 2003, and Tunis in November 2005.
From http://www.unescap.org/ 08/14/2003
APEC E-commerce Expo Rescheduled for Next June
The APEC e-commerce exposition, first scheduled for April but postponed
because of SARS, has been rescheduled in the seaside city of Yantai, east
China's Shandong Province, for June 15 to 19, next year, as approved by
the APEC trade ministers' meeting and the Chinese government. Officials
of the organizing committee said the exposition was the first major event
in e-commerce sponsored by the Asian and Pacific Economic Cooperation
forum (APEC). The expo would feature the theme, "Digital APEC embracing
tomorrow", and would 2003-10-29show the latest developments of IT industries
of APEC members and e-commerce modes. The event would also help promote
investment and cooperation in e-commerce and raise e-commerce development
among small and medium-sized enterprises, said officials. The expo will
be jointly sponsored by APEC, China's Ministry of Commerce and Ministry
of Information Industry, and the People's Government of Shandong Province.
From Xinhua News Agency 09/01/2003
TOPˇü
NATO Seminar on Network Strategies Opened in Baku
The third seminar on network strategies of Association of Networks of
Central and Western Europe (CEENet) within the framework of NATO modern
networks seminar has started today in Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences.
The seminar is organized by NATO scientific program, UNDP, Association
of Networks of Central and Western Europe (CEENet), Azerbaijan Academy
of Sciences, Association of Scientific and Educational Networks (AZRENA)
and Open Society Institute - Fund of Assistance (OSI). The goal of the
seminar is to expand integration of various network strategies both at
national and international levels. Makhmud Kerimov, President of Azerbaijan
Academy of Sciences, said while opening the seminar that integration of
Azerbaijani information and communication technologies into the world
network will be assessed at the forum. Effective operation of State Network
of Science, Technique and Regional Cooperation, internet formation in
Azerbaijan and other issues will be discussed at the seminar as well.
Walter Kaffenberg, representative of NATO scientific program, said about
70 participants from almost 30 world countries take part at the seminar.
NATO supports IT development in Azerbaijan and the seminar is very important
for NATO's scientific program in the region. Ziyafat Askerov, Milli Mejlis
deputy chairman, Fatma Abdullazade, chief of presidential administration's
department, Walter Kaffenberg, representative of NATO's scientific program,
Jean Gruntorad, representative of CEENet, Ambassadors of Italy, Turkey
and Poland as well as representatives of UNDP, Open Society Institute
and other international organizations, local NGOs, private and state sector
take part at the seminar. The seminar will continue in international tourism
centre Ganjlik, Baku, Zagulba district, and conclude on September 30.
From http://www.bakutoday.net/ 09/27/2003
TOPˇü
60 Companies from 15 World Countries to Take Part
at Bakutel-2003 Exhibition
Azerbaijan international exhibition BakuTel-2003 organized by international
exhibition company ITU Group PLS and its exclusive partner in Azerbaijan
Iteca Caspian will take place in Baku from October 1 to 3. About 60 companies
from 15 world countries, including Azerbaijan, Russia, Germany, Finland,
Israel, U.S., Lithuania and others, have applied to-date for participation
at the exhibition. Among them there are AdaNet, AgilentTechnologies, Applied
Techs Ltd, AzEuroTel, AzTelecom, Advantek, =esfibel, Elettronica, Siemens,
Smart Systems Technology, IskraTel, Samara Cable, Nokia, Intersputnik,
Elcon Systemtechnik, ECI Telecom, CEN Group, Rohde&Schwarz;, Comarcom,
Elektronika, Satis, Telesis, Telpas, Eutelsat, Istinad, Goodwin, Inform
Elektronik, Delta Telekom, CATEL and others. The exhibition will be held
with support of Ministry of Communication and Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce
and Industry. Experts of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will
take part at the exhibition.
From http://www.bakutoday.net/ 10/08/2003
TOPˇü
Global IT Outsourcing Summit 2003 to Hold in Shanghai
The first Global IT Outsourcing Summit 2003 will kick off in Shanghai
on October 14 and 15, and nearly 100 software companies from home and
abroad signed up for the summit to date. The summit, organized by Shanghai
Municipal Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Commission and Informatization
Office of Shanghai Municipal Government, aims to encourage more domestic
software firms to tap the global market through international cooperation.
Shanghai's focus on informatizing development has boosted the local software
industry, with export volumes of software reaching US$175 million last
year, topping the list nationwide. There were 1,207 software firms in
the city by the end of last year, with annual business volumes of 11.7
billion yuan. Shanghai has currently boasted Pudong Software Park, Southwest
Software Park, and seven district-level software bases, and is preparing
to build a new domestic software export base. Most software exports of
the city last year were contracted projects from overseas. Japan-based
NEC and Fujitsu have established software contract centers in Shanghai
to subcontract software export projects to Chinese companies. Microsoft,
HP and Ericsson have established global software research and development
centers in Shanghai, and renowned Indian software firms such as NIIT,
TATA and Infosys also launched operations in the city. The Langchao Group,
one of the earliest domestic enterprises engaged in information industry,
announced recently to put Shanghai as its new business center to expand
its operations. "China only exported US$1.5 billion in software last year,
far lagging behind India and Ireland," said Wang Xingshan, president with
Langchao Group. Indian software industry, keen on exports, largely depends
on the global market, while Chinese software firms are supported by local
market, Wang said. "More multinational companies have entered the city
to seek cooperation with local software firms, which provide domestic
software firms a good opportunity to tap the overseas market," he added.
From http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/ 10/13/2003
TOPˇü
China to Host Second International E-government
Conference
China's second international conference on e-government technology will
open in Shanghai from Dec. 17 to 20, with an expected 100,000 people visiting,
the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced here Tuesday. The meeting,
initiated by the CAS, will be co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science
and Technology, Shanghai municipal government, the China Association for
Science and Technology, and the China Council for the Promotion of International
Trade. The organizers said the meeting would include two exhibitions,
and six forums and special programs. The forums will cover planning for
China's e-government development, international exchange of e-government
technology, e-government safety, infrastructure construction, sharing
of government information, and construction of digitized cities. Hundreds
of government organizations from over 20 Chinese provinces and regions
have applied to attend. More than 80,000 people have applied for tickets
by accessing the conference website. Leading IT suppliers, such as IBM,
Microsoft and Founder, will attend. The organizers said e-government technology
in China had seen great progress with planning policies and projects launched
in recent years. It is estimated that China will invest more than 25 million
yuan (3 million US dollars) annually in e-government construction in coming
years. The 1st e-government conference was held in Beijing last year.
The official website is www.egovchina.org.
From CRI 10/14/2003
TOPˇü |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
CHINA: HK Government Committed to Enhancing
E-Security
The Government has been actively promoting e-business in the community.
Through the implementation of the e-government programme and enhancements
to the information and communication technologies infrastructure, it has
progressively established a reliable and secure environment that inspires
public confidence in electronic transactions. At the opening ceremony
of the Hong Kong Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Forum, the Director of
Information Technology Services, Mr Alan Wong, said today (September 15)
that Government had launched a number of initiatives to enhance Hong Kong's
e-security infrastructure and facilities. These included the enactment
of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance in January 2000 that provides
a legal framework for the conduct of e-business. Under the ordinance,
electronic records and digital signatures are given the same legal status
as of paper-based documents. It also provides the basis for PKI to develop
in Hong Kong. Mr Wong said that Government had been playing a leading
role in the adoption of the PKI for nearly a decade. He cited a number
of examples of government projects to make his point. The Community Electronic
Trading System was launched in 1997 for processing online trade-related
documents including import and export declarations, certificates of origin
and cargo manifests over an electronic data interchange platform. To secure
the data exchange and payment transactions, the system uses PKI technology.
Today, there are some 53,800 companies participating in the system, generating
more than 51,000 transactions per day and 17 million documents annually.
Mr Wong said plans were in hand for a second service provider to offer
front-end electronic trading services from next year. The new service
will be Internet-based and PKI will be employed to secure the electronic
transactions. Another well-known example of PKI adoption is the Electronic
Service Delivery (ESD) scheme under the e-government programme. Digital
certificates are employed to ensure confidentiality, integrity and non-repudiation
for transactions requiring a higher level of security. Since its launch
in December 2000, over 3.9 million transactions have been performed through
the ESD scheme. The public can access about 170 services offered by 50
government departments or public agencies. Under the Electronic Tendering
System, another e-government initiative, PKI technology is used for signing
and encrypting documents for companies to submit tender proposals to the
government electronically. Mr Wong said the Government played an active
role in promoting standardisation on the adoption of technologies, including
PKI. Hong Kong has participated in international forums, such as the e-Security
Task Group of the APEC. The e-security infrastructure that the Government
has built has helped create opportunities for the local IT industry. It
has also provided the stimulus for tertiary research and development projects
on security-related items. On one occasion, this has led to the establishment
of a local company providing commercial security solutions to the community.
The Smart ID Card employs sophisticated cryptographic techniques to protect
user data, ensuring that it cannot be fraudulently altered or accessed
by unauthorised parties. Its successful launch has provided a technology
platform for future applications. Mr Wong said that the Smart ID Card
would inspire the industry to develop applications, products and solutions
based on the chip embedded in the card that employed PKI technologies.
The Smart ID Card provides a secure platform to facilitate the development
of e-government and e-business. It has great potential and will create
business opportunities for service providers, software vendors and developers
involved in the adoption of PKI and PKI-enabled solutions.
From http://www.info.gov.hk/ 09/15/2003
TOPˇü
Hong Kong Gov't Promoting Open Source Software
Wider product choices brought by open source software has been welcomed
by the Government. Speaking at the launch of the Linux Business Adoption
Campaign, which aims to encourage the use of open source software in Hong
Kong, Director of Information Technology Services Alan Wong said the administration
will adopt the software as much as possible. Jointly organised by the
Information Technology Services Department, the HK Productivity Council
and the HK Linux Industry Association, the campaign will deliver a range
of activities from September to December, including seminars and a Linux
Business Adoption Award. Mr. Wong said the campaign aimed to provide information
and tips on best practices in deploying applications on open source platforms.
"The Government has no preference for particular brands or technologies,"
Mr Wong said. "In selecting software, criteria such as function, security,
system compatibility, technical support and cost-effectiveness will be
taken into consideration. "We actively promote the adoption of open source
technology among Government departments and the private sector. In compliance
with the procurement regulations, vendors are encouraged to introduce
their products to the departments." To provide support to small and medium
enterprises in adopting open source software, $890,000 was provided by
the SME Development Fund to establish a Linux Resource Centre in July.
Concurrently, the IT Easy Link has extended its service to provide a free
hotline and face-to-face consultations for SMEs that encounter problems
in adopting information technology applications, including the use of
open source software. The Commerce, Industry & Technology Bureau, the
Information Technology Services Department and the HK Computer Society
first launched the service in June last year. "I hope this Linux Business
Adoption Campaign will encourage the adoption of innovative information
technology and provide a wider choice of software for the Government,
enterprises and in particular SMEs," Mr. Wong said.
From http://www.news.gov.hk/ 09/16/2003
TOPˇü
Hong Kong: Gov't Promotes IT Use to Boost Productivity
Adopting information technology can enhance business productivity, the
Director of Information Technology Services says. That's why the Government
is establishing secure IT infrastructure and developing more electronic
applications. Speaking to business executives at the CEOs' Congress this
afternoon, Alan Wong said the Government was committed to using IT to
support the development of industry and commerce. Following the launch
of the Digital 21 Strategy in 1998 and Hong Kong's progress in building
IT infrastructure, business and public confidence in conducting online
transactions has increased.
More appplication systems come onstream
To inspire local businesses to adopt IT, the Government has invested significantly
in making more application systems available. "Among them, the Electronic
Tendering System launched in April 2000 has brought efficiency and convenience
to both the Government and our suppliers," Mr Wong said, adding that the
aim is to conduct 83% of government tenders electronically by the end
of this year. He also described the Digital Trade & Transportation Network
that will provide an open and neutral electronic platform for exchanges
among logistics players in the supply chain.
Small businesses have IT funding options
Turning to financial support for the industry, he said the Government
had launched the SME Funding Schemes to help local firms rise to new challenges
and seize the opportunities created by the signing of the Closer Economic
Partnership Arrangement. Companies can apply for funds to finance their
IT-related projects. The Hong Kong Article Numbering Association has received
a subsidy to launch the SME Ambassador Program, which aims to help local
enterprises build fundamental e-business facilities. Other examples include
granting funds to optical and jewellery manufacturers to use the Internet
and advanced graphics processing technology to promote their products
overseas, Mr Wong said.
Services aid in adopting IT
Through several departments and support organisations, the Government
also provides services to enable local enterprises to take advantage of
innovation and technology. In 2002 about 40% of manufacturers used personal
computers and 31% of them had Internet connections, Mr Wong said, noting
that there was still room for the industry to employ IT to boost competitiveness.
The use of IT not only improves product development and design, production
technology and market promotion, but also shortens the product development
cycle and reduces "time to market".
Solutions aim to make business more effective
Today companies can choose from a computer solutions such as enterprise
resources planning and supply chain management, to best suit their business
needs. Such solutions enable them to conduct more effectively the bill
of materials, job scheduling, cost and inventory control, capacity planning
and delivery tracking. Companies can use computer systems to source business
partners in the supply chain. Advances in communication technologies help
to strengthen internal and external communication, as well as streamline
the production cycle. "To survive in the competitive market, companies
must draw on IT to improve their productivity, management and service
quality," Mr Wong concluded.
From http://www.news.gov.hk/ 10/16/2003
TOPˇü
JAPAN: Partial Amendment of Regulations on Licensing
Procedures for Radio Stations
The MPHPT today submitted an inquiry to the Radio Regulatory Council
(chaired by Professor YASUDA Yasuhiko, Waseda University) concerning a
draft partial amendment of the regulations on licensing procedures for
radio stations (Radio Regulatory Council regulations No. 15, 1950), and
received a response that this was appropriate as per the original draft.
The MPHPT will take the report on this matter into consideration, and
plans to enact this ministerial announcement on October 1, 2003.
From http://www.soumu.go.jp/ 09/03/2003
TOPˇü
46 Projects Selected for the Fiscal 2003 R&D;
Support Scheme for Funding Selected IT Proposals
The MPHPT, in looking at the projects submitted for the fiscal 2003 Strategic
Information and Communications R&D; Promotion Scheme has taken into account
the results of evaluation by committees set up for each program (operating
from August 26 to September 5). Decisions have been taken as follows.
Three programs (Top priority Research and Development to be focused, Research
and Development for Fostering Researchers, and Research and Development
Aimed at Acquiring for International Technical Standardization) for a
total of 46 research and development projects were selected.
From http://www.soumu.go.jp/ 09/12/2003
TOPˇü
Amendment in Softbank BB's Business Restructuring
Plan Based on Industrial Revitalization Law
The MPHPT today authorized the amendment to Softbank BB's Business Restructuring
Plan that was requested by the company, based on article 4-1 of the Law
on Special Measures for Industrial Revitalization (Industrial Revitalization
Law).
Outline of Amendment:
Planning for an improvement, through the use of debt-equity swaps*, in
financial constitution, with a reduction in interest-bearing debt and
debt-equity ratio, and an increase in equity ratio along with a reduction
in interest payments, and an additional capital increase of 70 billion
yen (of which 35 billion yen will be recapitalized), in order to plan
for an expansion in broadband infrastructure business which is the company's
core business.
From http://www.soumu.go.jp/ 10/17/2003
TOPˇü
SOUTH KOREA: Ministry to Expand IT Education
Program for Disadvantaged
The Ministry of Planning and Budget (MOPB) is seeking to expand IT education
programs for disadvantaged citizens. The move comes after a review of
the status of national projects revealed there has not been sufficient
IT training programs for the disadvantaged group of citizens, including
the elderly and the disabled. The programs for the disadvantaged will
likely be provided through paid-visits and online Internet courses. For
eligible individuals who complete the courses, the ministry will further
assist in their efforts to obtain IT licenses and attain jobs. While expanding
programs for the underprivileged, the ministry added, it plans to gradually
reduce the overall volume of government IT education projects by integrating
the training programs that are currently being conducted by individual
ministries.
From http://www.korea.net/ 09/05/2003
TOPˇü
Ministry to Raise SK Telecom Service Fees
Information and Communi-cation Minister Chin Dae-je said yesterday that
he would introduce a new policy charging SK Telecom, the country`s largest
mobile carrier, more for network usage as part of efforts to help smaller
carriers stay competitive. In a regular monthly briefing Minister Chin
said the policy, to be implemented within this year, is aimed at spurring
competition in the mobile market, referring to the lopsided structure
in which SK Telecom continues to dominate over KTF and LG Telecom. Chin
also said the ministry would map out a specific plan to license the 2.3
GHz mobile Internet spectrum for wireless Internet services. In addition,
the ministry is reviewing the possibility of utilizing the IMT-2000 Time
Division Duplex spectrum, which is not actively being used by carriers,
for 2.3 GHz services. By allocating the IMT-2000 TDD spectrum to 2.3 GHz
services, the ministry expects to increase the number of potential licensees
to four, up from the current two. The so-called next-generation mobile
Internet based on 2.3 GHz technology will be commercialized in 2005. But
Chin`s policy to help out smaller carriers is likely to spark protest
from SK Telecom. The Information Ministry already approved measures, such
as number portability, that would benefit KTF and LG Telecom. The heavier
network usage fee is expected to deal another blow to SK Telecom, particularly
at a time when analysts are issuing negative ratings on the company in
connection with its move to enter the fixed-line telecom business. Tuesday,
SK Telecom bought commercial paper issued by Hanaro Telecom Inc., a move
that it hopes will lead to a foreign capital injection for the beleaguered
firm. But speculation is that SK Telecom is interested in entering the
broadband and fixed-line fields in order to better compete with KT Corp.,
which controls the country`s fixed-line network and the No. 2 wireless
carrier KTF. Minister Chin said he is reviewing IMT-2000 1x EV-DV technology,
which is regarded as three-and-a-half generation technology compared with
the third generation mobile service, EV-DO, that is widely available in
Korea already. He said the ministry might adopt EV-DV and HSDPA, an upgrade
of W-CDMA 3G technology, as local standards. SK Telecom and KTF are scheduled
to roll out W-CDMA 3G services later this year, though critics and analysts
say investment in the network infrastructure overlaps with the existing
EV-DO network. As for the fledgling satellite IMT-2000 technology, Chin
revealed a plan to forge strategic partnership with European countries.
(by Yang Sung-jin)
From http://www.mic.go.kr/ 09/05/2003
TOPˇü
Ministry to Launch Cable-Based Broadband
The Korean government said yesterday it will help build a new digital
broadband network utilizing the country`s cable network by 2007, a move
that is expected to solidify the positions of local cable TV network operators.
The Ministry of Information and Communication said the new measure will
help transform the existing analog cable TV infrastructure into a digital
one, paving the way for a new services that could offer 100 Mbps-class
data transmission, or about 100 times faster than today`s digital subscriber
line. Korea is the world`s most wired nation, with more than 11 million
households hooked up to high-speed Internet networks. The domestic cable
industry expects the Information Ministry`s initiative to infuse fresh
momentum into local operators, many of which are struggling to bolster
profitability. The industry has long suffered a slump due partly to over-competition
among local cable TV network operators.
From The Korea Herald 09/15/2003
TOPˇü
TAJIKSTAN: President Affirms Support for Independent
Media, But Doubts Remain
PRAGUE.Important steps were taken last week to broaden access to information
in Tajikistan. A private broadcasting company is now offering 12 television
channels in Dushanbe. The independent news agency Asia Plus has also announced
it has received rights to broadcast in the capital -- permission it had
sought for four years. RFE/RL reports, however, that despite such positive
developments, the power of the state body that grants broadcasting licenses
remains firmly in place. Residents of the Tajik capital Dushanbe currently
have no real options for tuning into independent television and radio
broadcasting. Although Tajikistan has 15 independent television stations
and one independent radio station, their range is limited and their audiences
small. In Dushanbe, only state-run and pro-government stations are currently
operating. Tajik authorities routinely deny broadcasting licenses to independent
television and radio stations -- a practice that has drawn fire from media-freedom
advocates. But the system is beginning to change. Most recently, a private
broadcaster last week began providing nonstate programming to the Tajik
capital. The company, TV Service, holds broadcasting rights for a total
of 12 channels featuring sports, feature films, cartoons, and musical
programs in Russian, English, and Hindi. Vadim Engelhard, the financial
officer for TV Service, told RFE/RL his company holds the license to 10
foreign channels -- eight of which are Russian -- and two local channels.
"Currently our company has access to 12 channels, and our general director
is trying to reach an agreement with the Fox Kids channel. We will not
translate anything: We will rebroadcast programs as they are. The fees
for the use of the channels for six months are $10, which means that we
offer a discount of $2. The monthly fee is in fact $2," Engelhard said.
The arrival of TV Service in the capital appears to signal a softening
stance by the Tajik government on the independent mass media. President
Imomali Rakhmonov went one step further in remarks last week, stating
that without a strong, professional, and independent media there is no
possibility of establishing a law-based government. Rakhmonov made his
statement after a meeting with Umed Bobkhonov, the director of the independent
Asia Plus news agency. Asia Plus had tried for four years with no success
to obtain a broadcasting license from the State Committee on Television
and Radio Broadcasting. During the meeting with Rakhmonov, Bobkhonov discussed
the committee's failure to grant Asia Plus the right to provide independent
radio broadcasting in the capital city. "First of all, we asked the president
why Asia Plus has not been able to get a license to broadcast since 1998.
We told him that we have followed all proper legal procedures and that
we are just waiting for the permission from the Committee on Television
and Radio Broadcasting to broadcast. The president expressed his opinion
about the situation of the Tajik press, adding that there should be independent
media in the capital. The president promised that he would tell the committee
to give a license to Asia Plus in the coming days," Bobkhonov said. Bobkhonov
said three weeks after it was once again refused a radio license, Asia
Plus received a promise from Rakhmonov that his news agency will be able
to begin radio broadcasts on 9 September. Asia Plus started six years
ago as a news agency, and began publishing a weekly paper about two years
ago. This year, the media outlet launched a television production house,
which is also encountering problems. Marat Mamadshoev, a commentator at
the Asia Plus weekly, said the internal situation in Tajikistan has improvedsince
the end of the 1992-1997 civil war. This in turn has allowed the government
to gradually address other problems, such as the lack of free mass media.
Mamadshoev added that he wants to believe the recent Asia Plus and TV
Service decisions are part of a new policy of liberalization on the part
of Tajik authorities, who he said are facing increasing "international
pressure." Rashid Ghani, an independent political researcher in Tajikistan,
agrees. He said that regardless of the government's motivation in extending
the new broadcasting licenses, the change marks an important step for
Tajik society. "The reasons behind [the president's] decision are not
important. This is happening, and it is important for us. This is a positive
step, and I think it should be supported. It means that the government
is paying attention to the situation and the status of the press in the
current democratic process," Ghani said. The New York-based Committee
to Protect Journalists cautiously welcomed Rakhmonov's decision. In a
statement, Executive Director Ann Cooper called the move a "positive sign,"
and called on the Tajik government to "follow up its words with action."
According to many observers, the still relatively unchecked power of the
Committee on Television and Radio Broadcasting still raises concerns about
the real intentions of Rakhmonov's regime. The state body, they argue,
fears the emergence of competitors and will fight to maintain a monopoly
in the field. Junaidulloh Ibodov, a Tajik lawyer, is critical of the television
and radio committee's hold on power. He told RFE/RL that Rakhmonov's recent
intervention in the affairs of Asia Plus should not be the sole solution
to problems in a country that claims to abide by its laws. "I do not think
that this [decision to allow Asia Plus to broadcast in Dushanbe] is going
to be a systematic trend and that similar problems will have a similar
positive development, because the interference of the president to get
permission for Asia Plus is an exception. This should not be the case.
Laws should be implemented, not the decision of a high-ranking official,"
Ibodov said. The main problem, Ibodov argued, remains that the existing
media law gives full authority to the Committee on Television and Radio
Broadcasting to deal with the question of licensing. He proposed an alternative
to this state body. "We have to create a special public and state board
to deal with the issuing of licenses under the conditions of competition.
This cannot be a purely government body. And this cannot be the Committee
on Television and Radio Broadcasting because it is not interested in having
competition with private nongovernment broadcasters," Ibodov said. But
Muhammad Goibov, deputy director of the Committee on Television and Radio
Broadcasting, denies the argument that his organization has put a stranglehold
on media development in Tajikistan. The committee, he said, is an independent
organization that is seeking to ensure "professionalism" in the Tajik
media. "Here in this committee there are members of other commissions.
There are people from the Communications Ministry, there are representatives
from nongovernmental organizations, from associations, and from the capital-city
television channel," Goibov said. Nevertheless, observers point out that
the issuing of a radio license to Asia Plus is partly due to international
pressure. The final rejection by the Committee on Television and Radio
Broadcasting to issue a license last month raised considerable local and
international concern. The committee at the time said a private alternative
to state-run radio in Dushanbe was "unnecessary." In May 2001, the committee
adopted a regulation permitting a license to be refused on this basis
alone. The National Association for Independent Media in Tajikistan has
called such reasoning an attack on freedom of speech. The Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) representative on freedom
and media, Freimut Duve, said the committee's argument is not compelling
in light of the standards and commitments Tajikistan has undertaken to
follow as a participating state of the OSCE. As early as June, international
and local critics won a small but significant victory, when a criminal
case against Dododzhon Atovulloev, editor of the opposition "Charogi ruz"
newspaper, was closed. Atovulloev fled in exile to Germany in May 2001
after being accused of attempting to overthrow the state with the critical
reporting in his newspaper. This, a spokesperson for the Internews media
support group said, was "the first time that the Tajik government felt
intense pressure." (by Antoine Blua)
From http://www.times.kg/ 08/06/2003
TOPˇü
Slow Pace of Computerization Criticized
Criticism of the slow pace of computerization and Internet use in Uzbek
government agencies was heard at a session of the Uzbek government's Coordination
Council on Computerization and Information-Communication Technologies,
centrasia.ru reported on 11 August, quoting UzA. The date of the council
session was not given. According to the report, government agencies were
scolded for not developing their own websites and for not making their
websites attractive or interesting or informing website visitors what
services the agency provides. In addition, the level of computer literacy
was described as unsatisfactory in some agencies. UzA noted that as of
1 August, the estimated number of Internet users in Uzbekistan had risen
to 353,100, up from 275,000 at the beginning of 2003 and 137,000 in 2001.
There are reported to be 186 Internet providers in Uzbekistan, up from
130 at the beginning of the year, but most are located in Tashkent. BB
(by Edward Weihman)
From http://www.eurasianet.org/ 08/11/2003
TOPˇü
UZBEKISTAN: Draft Bill "On Electronic Digital
Signature" Published
Draft bill "On electronic digital signature" was published for national
discussion. The draft bill was approved in the first reading of the last
session of Oliy Majlis (Uzbek Parliament) held on 29-30 August 2003. The
parliamentary committee on issues of industry, construction, transport
and communication jointly with interested ministries and departments is
entrusted to generalise received proposals and submit the bill for consideration
of legislators. The bill establishes that digital signature on electronic
documents is acknowledged upon receipt of a special close electronic key,
allowing to identify its owner, integrity and invariability of the document.
The approved draft consists of 21 articles, which stipulate norms providing
acknowledgement of equivalence of digital and paper signature at simultaneous
observance of conditions established by the law. In order to create an
electronic digital signature, closed keys known only to the signing person
are created, as well as open keys - for check-up of authenticity of the
signature, which should be known to the information system user. In line
with the bill, close and open keys of electronic digital signature can
be created by legal and physical entities or on their forms of address
by registration centres. At that, however, it is necessary to use only
certified technical and programme means. The bill puts certain obligations
on the closed key owner, such as ensuring appropriate control over the
use of key and prior measures in case of breaking its access mode. Moreover,
the closed key owner is responsible for losses caused by unauthorised
use through non-execution of obligations established by the law. The bill
emphasises the legal status and authorities of centres for registration
of electronic digital signature keys. They should render assistance to
closed key owners and all their clientele and should serve as a main link
in creating and using the electronic digital signature.
From http://www.uzreport.com/ 10/01/2003
TOPˇü |
|
| |
|
|
| |
MALAYSIA: Minister Issues Malaysia's ICT
Report Card
Malaysia ICT Week 2003 kicked off Tuesday at the Mines Resort City here
with Energy, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Amar Leo Moggie
delivering a "report card" on the local industry's progress and achievements
so far. He also laid out plans to promote and enable the greater penetration
and usage of ICT among Malaysians, with greater access to communication
services under new Universal Service Provision (USP) regulations, as well
as the expansion of the Internet Desa and Kedai.com programmes. Malaysia
was a leading country among its Asean neighbours, he said, with an Internet
penetration rate of about 33%, based on the country's 2.6 million dialup
Internet subscribers and an estimated 7.8 million users as at the end
of last year. "According to the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU), Sweden, Iceland and Denmark lead the world with 60% Internet penetration,"
Moggie said. "Connectivity is a prerequisite for any country wanting to
keep up with the pace of development in the new economy," he added. Over
the past three years, the local communications and multimedia industry
grew 10% annually on average, while the number of cellular subscribers
grew 25% year-on-year from 5.1million in 2000 to 9.9 million in June this
year. The number of Internet dialup subscribers grew 61% from 1.6mil in
2000 to 2.6 million as of June. Moggie also noted that while 1.2 billion
people worldwide had to survive on the equivalent of US$1 (RM3.80) per
day, at the other extreme developing nations were venturing into next
generation technologies like super networks with 10,000 times faster processing
speeds and 30,000 times greater capacity than the existing Internet. This
would have implications on the global trading environment that could place
developing nations at an unfair trading advantage and further intensify
unfair trading practices, he claimed. He also called upon Malaysia's policy
makers and network providers to examine the actual changes brought about
by new regulatory mechanisms like the 1998 Communications and Multimedia
Act, which are not only technology-neutral but are also based on the principle
that competition will lead to greater efficiency. "As policy makers and
network providers, it is important to ask ourselves how far these changes
have brought real and tangible benefits to the people," Moggie said. The
minister noted that many new Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) service
providers have sprouted across the nation to offer consumers more varied
and affordable choices for making trunk and international calls, and value-added
services. Some of the licensed last-mile service providers are now rolling
out last-mile access over wireless connections, and there has been a sudden
increase of interest among local entrepreneurs to build network facilities
based on wireless technologies, he said, attributing this to pent-up demand
for broadband services. He however cautioned entrepreneurs to avoid the
mistakes of the 1990s, like "over-investing" in network infrastructure
which led to an excess of unused capacity. "Rather than flocking into
network facilities development, budding technopreneurs should move aggressively
into applications and content development," Moggie said. For instance,
many software companies have benefited from the pervasive use of ICT in
the banking and financial sectors, and there's an enormous untapped potential
in the retail, healthcare, transport and hospitality sectors. Moggie said
he expects strong growth in demand for network integration services to
enable the interoperability of mobile, fixed, wireless LAN (local area
network) and other networks. "In addition, the Malaysian Communications
and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has also been asked to introduce mandatory
standards for access, to facilitate maximum use of existing copper and
fibre networks," he said. Meanwhile, the number of satellite TV subscribers
passed the one million mark at the end of last year, compared to 561,000
in 2000, while a new free-to-air TV station -- Channel 9 -- will be starting
up soon. Channel 8 (formerly Metrovision) will resume service by the end
of the year. However Moggie lamented the fact that the proportion of local
broadcast content was "unacceptably low" and called upon all players in
the content industry to address this issue. The minister noted that much
still needs to be done to bridge the nation's digital divide, the socioeconomic
gap between those with access to ICT and those without. He said that connecting
households without basic communication service required faster deployment.
Towards this end, regulations governing the USP will be amended to provide
greater flexibility in its implementation and enable faster rollout of
services. These amendments will simplify administrative processes for
implementing USP programmes, be open to all licensees and not just network
facility providers, and will also let them freely choose the technology
to be implemented. All licensees make an annual contribution towards the
USP Fund managed by the MCMC, and the fund today stands at RM400mil. Moggie
urged the MCMC to deploy the fund quickly and where appropriate, to reduce
or eliminate any red tape "which delays or hinders the implementation
of projects under the USP programme." Moggie pledged that at the same
time his ministry and the MCMC will continue to play their part through
projects like setting up Internet Desa (rural Internet) centres and Kedai.com
programmes designed to bring network access to people in rural and marginalised
areas. About 40 more Internet Desa telecentres will be added to bring
their total to 56 nationwide, while the number of Kedai.coms will be increased
from the present 15 to 133 by the end of the year. Kedai.coms are "mini-cybercafes"
comprising up to five PCs and two public payphones communicating wirelessly
over a VSAT (very small aperture terminal). The MCMC pays for the equipment
and operational costs for one year out of its own funds, while the local
community provides the premises and furniture, and pays for the electricity.
Various voluntary bodies train the local community in using the facilities.
Malaysia ICT Week 2003 also included the two-day MSC ICT Policy Summit
which had the theme A Roadmap to Global Competitiveness, Puspanita's one-day
seminar on how women can work from home using ICT, and a one-day National
E-Security Seminar. There were also three concurrent exhibitions -- Asean
Communications and Multimedia 2003 Expo and Forum, MSC Expo 2003 and National
E-Commerce Expo. ICT Week culminated with the seventh annual meeting of
the Multimedia Super Corridor's International Advisory Panel (IAP) in
Cyberjaya on Thursday. (By Charles F. Moreira)
From http://star-techcentral.com/ 09/05/2003
TOPˇü
EDS, Opsware Propose Open Standard for Utility
Computing
About 25 technology companies are backing a new language to simplify
computing for corporations and make it easier and cheaper for data centres
to exchange information. The open standard, called Data Centre Markup
Language or DCML, is designed to boost so-called utility computing and
will be ready early next year, officials said. Electronic Data Systems
Corp and software company Opsware Inc proposed the new industrywide standard
Tuesday in Boston. Supporters include Computer Associates International
Inc, BEA Systems and Akamai Technologies Inc. The standard would allow
companies to automate more of the functions of running computer systems
that use incompatible equipment and software from different vendors. Marc
Andreessen, the chairman of Opsware and co-founder of Web browser pioneer
Netscape Communications, compared the proposed standard to the advent
of HTML for Web browsers, which standardised making content in different
formats readily available on the Internet. "The role that a standard can
play is really fundamental," he said. "Standards have always accelerated
adoption" of new technology. In recent years, many companies have shifted
their data centres to Internet-based systems, causing an explosion in
demand for servers and software - often from several different vendors.
Companies have hired huge information-technology staff to handle their
increasingly complex data-centre operations and other management and technology
systems that often can't talk to each other. EDS vice-chairman Jeff Heller
said the standard would help meet demands from corporate and government
customers to operate their call centres faster, better and cheaper. EDS
also hopes the standard will give it more leverage to challenge IBM, which
encourages customers to buy their equipment from one vendor. Heller said
an open standard for running data centres would mean customers wouldn't
have to do that, and added that the open standard "will be very helpful
in our struggle with IBM." IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems are
pushing their own, closed-end initiatives to automate data centre operations.
Donna Scott, an analyst with research firm Gartner, said freer exchange
of information between data centres is needed for utility computing to
deliver on its promise of better service and reduced costs. Without something
like the new markup language, information-technology operations will continue
to struggle and managing them will remain very labour-intensive, she said.
Opsware, formerly known as Loudcloud Inc, makes software for corporate
information-technology departments. EDS, based near Dallas, bought Opsware's
online services business. EDS runs computer systems and call centres for
corporate and government customers.
From http://star-techcentral.com/ 10/15/2003
TOPˇü
National Broadband Plan
The National Broadband Plan, an initiative by the Government to promote
a knowledge-based society, will begin its first phase of implementation
next year, initially leveraging existing community initiatives. Secretary-general
of the Energy, Communications and Multimedia Ministry, Datuk Dr Halim
Shafie, said the communities will include government departments at federal,
state and district levels which will be linked through the Government
Integrated Telecommunications Network (GITN) and E-government Net. The
first phase will also involve a group of 10,000 schools, to be connected
under the SchoolNet project, scheduled for launch next month. Another
group, Halim said, will be made up of local universities and research
institutions, and they will be linked via the Malaysia Research and Education
Network (MyREN), a high-speed private network. The aim is to initiate
growth and encourage collaborative partnership projects for research and
development. It will be integrated with other regional and international
research and education networks,?he told Computimes in Kuala Lumpur on
Tuesday. Other communities identified under the National Broadband Plan
include the trade and customs facilities community connected under the
Dagang Net project, and hospitals and clinics, which will be linked through
the Telehealth Network. According to Halim, all users under these selected
community initiatives are expected to be linked to a broadband network
by end of next year. Meanwhile, the general public can also expect to
benefit from improved broadband services now available via the asymmetrical
digital subscriber line (ADSL), wireless local area network (WLAN) or
wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), and integrated service digital network (ISDN),
he said. Halim said a Government-backed push for broadband in the country
will drive service providers to improve on broadband infrastructure and
services to cater to a growing demand of the service. He added that the
reduction of broadband Internet access charges for commercial and residential
users by Telekom Malaysia has created a surge in demand for this service
and thus the service provider, as a business entity, must be able to respond
accordingly to market changes. Apart from leveraging existing Government-led
initiatives, the National Broadband Plan will also look into improvements
and upgrades in terms of broadband infrastructure and systems. It is a
moving plan, and the strategy beyond 2004 will be based on demand. For
example, when there is a requirement that the communities be linked to
one another, then they will. Hence, it is important that private networks
linking users within the selected communities share a common infrastructure,?Halim
said. He added that as it is the Government's aim to empower the society,
broadband access would eventually reach the whole nation, even rural areas.
The local penetration of broadband, defined as communications technology
such as DSL, direct broadcast satellite and third-generation cellular
phones that can provide support for fast and always-on access to a range
of communications services and applications, is still low compared to
other countries in Southeast Asia, Halim said. Yet such a network is needed
to accelerate transformation into a k-based society and economy, he said,
adding that last year Malaysia's broadband penetration rate was 0.08 per
cent compared to Singapore at 6.13 per cent and South Korea at 19.29 per
cent.
From http://www.ctimes.com.my/ 10/23/2003
TOPˇü
THAILAND: Bangkok, Seoul Team Up on ICT
Thailand will sign a memorandum of understanding with South Korea next
week to promote collaboration in the field of information and communications
technology (ICT). Under the government's plan approved by the Cabinet
yesterday, ICT Minister Surapong Suebwonglee will ink the accord during
the visit of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his delegation to South
Korea from August 24-26. The initiative to work together in the ICT arena
on e-government projects, e-education, e-procurement and software development
is in line with the Thaksin government's policy to enhance the country's
global competitive edge through ICT capacity-building. The parties will
help develop ICT human resources and telecom standards as well as set
up a joint committee to implement the agreement and review its progress.
The pact will last for five years and be automatically extended every
five years. Earlier Surapong said Thailand wanted to learn much more from
South Korea, especially about the broadband Internet industry. South Korea
has the largest broadband Internet market in the world. Broadband Net
service in the Kingdom is still in the nascent stage due to high service
charges, with only around 8,000 users. But rapid adoption is expected
to bring the figure up to 20,000 next year. Surapong has already visited
Ireland and Finland to seek closer ICT ties. A plan emerged from the discussion
with Finland to establish a joint IT fund to invest in budding projects
here and abroad. The premier visited Malaysia last month to improve trade
and ICT coordination.
From http:///ww.nationmultimedia.com/ 08/20/2003
TOPˇü
VIETNAM: Strategy Ushers in IT Competition
Viet Nam will open up its market to encourage all economic sectors to
take part in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry
to raise the efficiency and competitiveness of the computing sector, participants
in a seminar on national ICT policy said on Tuesday. The draft was made
known at the two-day seminar Paving the Road towards Viet Nam's ICT Strategy,
which focuses on infrastructure and industry development. It is the second
of a series organised by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommications with
UNDP assistance. The seminar brings policy makers, donors and the private
sector together to work out Viet Nam's first comprehensive plan for developing
its ICT industry. The seminars are part of the National Consultations
on Information and Communication Technology for Development project, conducted
with UNDP assistance. Participants said that Viet Nam will become a promising
market for information technology, possibly one of the top three countries
among ASEAN in terms of IT and telecommunications infrastructure. The
domestic ICT industry will reach US$5.5 billion by 2010, accounting for
9 per cent of gross domestic product up from the current 1.5 per cent,
participants said. The project is in line with the International Telecommunications
Union's 2002 country study, which reported that Viet Nam has one of the
fastest growing telecommunications infrastructures in the developing world
and the fastest growing telecommunications market in Southeast Asia. The
annual growth rate in telecommunications and internet use in Viet Nam
between 1995 and 2002 is 32.5 per cent, according to the union. The study
reported that the total number of desk telephone subscribers as of August
2003 reached 6.4 million, increasing annually by around 30 per cent. The
telephone density is now 8 per 100 people. Also, mobile phone networks
reached all 61 cities and provinces in 2002. The total number of mobile
phone subscribers is about 1.9 million with the rate of 2.5 phones per
100 people. New services and value added services in both desk telephone
and mobile phone are also increasing, the study found. The strategy's
four focus areas will be upgrading Viet Nam's IT infrastructure, developing
human resources, improving IT applications and strengthening the domestic
IT industry. Deputy Minister of Posts and Telematics Mai Liem Truc said
that ICT was one of the centrepieces in the implementation of the Government's
decade-long development strategy. He continued, saying that directive
58 of the Party Politburo recognises ICT as a pillar in the country's
infrastructure and one of the driving forces of economic growth. UNDP
Resident Representative Jordan Ryan welcomed this move to open up the
IT market, saying, "Viet Nam has several distinct advantages in developing
its ICT industry. These include a young and skilled, hard working labour
force and a leadership determined to develop its industry."
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 08/20/2003
TOPˇü
Experts Plot Future of IT in Viet Nam
More than 500 delegates, including Government officials, specialists,
managers and business representatives around the country, are participating
in a three-day seminar that began on Wednesday on the development of the
IT and communication sector towards 2020. "The seminar will contribute
to a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of the Politburo's
instruction on speeding up IT development in the cause of industrialisation
and modernisation between 2001 and 2005," said Deputy Prime Minister Pham
Gia Khiem at the opening session of the seminar, the first of its kind
in the country. The official noted that IT development promotes innovation,
rapid growth and modernisation, and enhances the competitiveness of businesses.
It also supports economic accession into the world's economy, improving
citizens' life and ensuring national defence and security. To achieve
IT goals, the State has issued various legal documents to provide a legal
framework for accelerating IT application and development. The IT and
telecommunications sectors have already recorded high growth rates of
20 to 25 per cent per annum. IT applications have been expanding with
50 per cent of the country's enterprises using IT in their management,
production, trade and services. Appro-ximatety 2,500 enterprises are registered
doing business in the software industry with a total staff of 8,000. "Two
software parks are operating relatively successfully in HCM City, and
initially have had some foreign markets, though still small in size,"
said Khiem. A number of hardware companies, including Fujitsu, Samsung
Vina, Hanel and Vietronic Tan Binh, have begun production, he said. The
computer assembling industry with around 20 assemblers and their own trademarks
have had positive results. The national information network comprising
the telecommunication system and the Internet has also proven effective
with six million subscribers, and 93 per cent of all 8,155 communes have
access to telephones. The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the rapid
development in IT human resource training. At least 57 colleges now have
training programmers and specialists. "However, there are problems in
the IT and communication sectors, including sluggish development, shortage
of investment, lack of appropriate policies and a small market share of
the IT industry, even in this country," he said. Under the development
strategy for the IT and communication sectors, Viet Nam is expected by
2020 to rank third in the region on the growth of these sectors in the
communication and Internet infrastructure. It also is targeted to reach
an advanced level of IT applications in the ASEAN region by 2020. Topics
to be discussed at the seminar through Friday include development strategy,
initial results, experiences and orientation of IT applications in HCM
City, electronics industry: opportunities and challenges, software exports,
applications in the construction, banking and aviation fields, Korean
experience in IT organisation and management, and IT human resource development.
A software exhibition, Softmart, opened yeaterday at the Etown building
in Cong Hoa Street where the seminar is being held, with more than 100
stalls displaying software products and solutions.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 09/11/2003
TOPˇü
HCM City Chiefs Urge Hi-Tech Shift
The industrial sector in HCM City must focus on hi-tech areas such as
telecoms, biotechnology and computer software if the city is to achieve
sustainable economic growth over the next two years, city leaders said
at the 13th meeting of the city's Party Committee on Thursday. The mayor,
Le Thanh Hai, said the city would aim to achieve at least 11 per cent
economic growth in the next two years, higher than the rate of 9.9 per
cent seen in the past two years, but he said there might have to be a
temporary slow-down in industrial production to allow for restructuring.
Over the last three years, the city has seen industrial production rise
15 per cent, contributing significantly to the city's economy. Hai said
that for the next two years the city would focus on developing key projects,
including the Quang Trung Software Park, the breeding of high quality
plant and animal varieties, and the reform of State-owned firms. Other
projects in 2005 would include the completion of a hi-tech industrial
park, improvements in garbage treatment and the resettlement of 10,000
households now living along polluted canals. The government would also
provide better water and electricity supplies, and improve road traffic
management to ease jams and reduce the number of road accidents. He said
the city also hoped to increase export revenue by 20 per cent between
2003 and 2005. State-owned firms, foreign-invested businesses and privately
owned manufacturers have all performed well, with foreign-invested companies
accounting for 27.7 per cent of the city's total industrial production.
The new focus on higher technology industries reflected the Government's
desire to achieve greater long-term economic growth. The meeting also
discussed administrative reforms and what punishments would be appropriate
to deal with corruption among Party officials and public employees. Over
the last two years, the city has punished 1,440 cadres and Party members
for violating economic and Party regulations. City officials also urged
the development of democratic attitudes among the public.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 09/12/2003
TOPˇü
President Promises IT Hub Will Receive Support
President Tran Duc Luong has thrown his weight behind the country's information
technology firms, promising to cut telecommunication costs at Quang Trung
software park, the country's leading IT park. "There is no doubt that
it is only with quick and inexpensive telecoms services that businesses,
including the Quang Trung software park, will be able to thrive," the
President said during a visit to the IT park on Monday. He was responding
to concerns raised by the software city's administration that high telecoms
charges were making business difficult. The telecoms network at the IT
park is considered to be among the best in Viet Nam, with the fastest
internet access in the country. Luong said IT development was vital to
the nation's industrialisation and modernisation process, and he urged
all IT experts at the software park to work harder to attain international
quality standards. He also listened to complaints from software companies
about difficulties they had in obtaining bank loans, and he asked the
HCM City authorities to immediately work out more ways to assist them.
He advised the HCM City administration to look for more joint venture
investors to help build up the IT park, and he urged commercial banks
to offer more flexible loan policies. Luong said the State would do its
utmost to protect copyrights on IT products, especially software patents.
The director of Quang Trung software park, Chu Tien Dung, told Luong that
the IT park now houses 51 software companies, including 17 foreign-invested
firms, with a total investment of US$10.92 million. Dung said the IT park
hoped to have at least 70 companies by the end of the year, and would
expand capacity by investing a further $22 million to attract a bigger
work force. The park now employs 2,400 IT experts and students, and plans
to add a further 1,000. A total of 10 office projects covering an area
of 14,000sq.m are now under construction in the software park, which was
created as the country's first IT park in 2001 under a Government initiative.
The deputy chairman of HCM City's People's Committee, Nguyen Thien Nhan,
said the municipal authorities had invested about VND 60 billion ($3.9
million) in the park, with VND600 billion ($38.71 million) coming from
other investors. Luong congratulated the park on its success, and expressed
the hope that it would attract more investors and contribute further to
Viet Nam's development. On Sunday, he visited the Viet Nam Dairy Product
Company (Vinamilk) and some sports centres which will host competitions
during the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in December. He said he was
pleased with Vinamilk's growth, but asked the company to increase exports,
and expand its markets and distribution network. At the Nguyen Dinh Chieu
and Nguyen Du sports centres, officials told him that renovations at the
city's 11 SEA Games competition venues will be finished next month.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn 09/18/2003
TOPˇü
Govt Wants IT Savvy Population
Viet Nam aims to strengthen the application of information and communication
technologies in Government, business and throughout the education system,
the Ministry of Posts and Telematics has announced. Deputy minister Mai
Liem Truc told the third information and communication technologies round-table
in Ha Noi on Wednesday that the adoption of these technologies would benefit
users across society. The round-table was organised by the ministry and
the United Nations Development Programme, and brought together representatives
of Government, business, academia and donors. Truc described the application
of these technologies and the development of human resources as the two
"children" of the national strategy that will form the basis of Viet Nam's
much-needed technology framework. He said the national strategy would
establish priorities for technological development, thereby accelerating
regional integration and helping Viet Nam become one of the top five ASEAN
countries in terms of technological readiness. "Success in this regard
will depend on the efforts that will be made by the three target groups
of the strategy: the Government, enterprises and users," Truc said. The
draft national strategy, released at the round-table on Wednesday, states
that information and communication technologies should be applied in all
economic, cultural and political fields, and should become one of the
most important factors in social and economic development by 2010. The
strategy aims to provide every corner of the country with access to information
on the internet, and enable residents of provincial towns to perform transactions.
According to the strategy, this would be a significant improvement on
the current situation, in which the technologies are too expensive for
the average person, where the environment is not conducive to application
development and there is no workable action plan. The strategy's human
resource development section outlines what needs to be done to integrate
the technologies as information tools throughout society, through improved
training in the technologies and their applications. The UNDP's resident
representative, Jordan Ryan, said the draft strategy showed the technologies
should not be seen as an isolated industry, but as an approach to realising
new possibilities and modalities of development. He said the strategy
was about harnessing the full potential of the technologies for all sectors
of the economy and society: public administration reform, private sector
competition, capacity building and achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals. According to Professor Dang Huu, the chief executive of the Communist
Party's Information and Communication Technologies Steering Committee,
many domestic enterprises have used the Internet to develop their business.
Information technology was out of the reach of most people, Huu said,
particularly those living in rural areas where intellectuals and information
were needed to boost economic development. "The State should reduce the
cost of accessing communication and Internet technologies. We need cheap
computers to help people," Huu said. He said two of the main obstacles
to the adoption of information technology were human resources and training.
At the end of the year, the ministry will organise a national forum to
review the final draft of the national information and communication technologies
strategy.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 10/03/2003
TOPˇü
HCM City Sets Sights on 7-Year Hi-Tech Plan
HCM City is planning to spend US$16.8 billion for industrial development
over the next seven years, with much of the expenditure in high-tech industries.
This amount represents nearly 39 per cent of the city's total investment
for economic development toward 2010, said city officials at a recent
meeting of leaders of local ministries of industry, planning and investment
and the City People's Committee. The focus will be on high-tech industries
such as electronics, information technology and telecom companies as well
as manufacturing and mechanical engineering industries. The city is expected
to earn VND167.6 trillion ($11.1 billion) in industrial turnover by 2010,
accounting for 27 to 32 per cent of the country's total industrial value.
Over the last nine months, the city's industrial value jumped by 15.1
per cent over 2002, ranking second after Ha Noi which had a 28.5 per cent
growth rate. The highest growth came in the clothing and footwear industries.
Deputy Minister of Industry Do Huu Hao said the Government has approved
the building of a mechanical engineering industrial park in the suburban
district of Cu Chi, northwest of HCM City. The 100ha industrial park will
focus on the maintenance and manufacture of mechanical engineering components
for the motor vehicle and shipbuilding industries. To kick off investment
in the industrial park, the city will establish a State-operated engineering
company that will initially specialise in the manufacture of passenger
buses. In the future, the company will produce other kinds of vehicles
and ships. City authorities also proposed that the industry ministry allow
the District 5 Engineering Traffic Enterprise to complete its manufacture
and assembly of seven-seater cars and minibuses bearing Vietnamese trademarks
so that it can quickly replace dilapidated cars and buses. The city is
now replacing 1,300 worn-out and obsolete buses with new ones in an effort
to reduce traffic congestion and road accidents. Meanwhile, the development
of the manufacturing, engineering, ship building and automobile industries
remains crucial to meet the rapid economic growth in the key southern
economic zones, they said.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 10/09/2003
TOPˇü |
|
| |
|
|
| |
BANGLADESH: Dhaka Plans to Monitor E-Mail
and Phone
The Bangladeshi cabinet is considering new laws that would enable the
authorities to monitor e-mail correspondence and telephone conversations
of the general public. The ruling coalition, which has a huge majority
in parliament, says that the measures are necessary to stop rising lawlessness
and terrorism. For the past two years the country has been in the middle
of a crime wave, with as many as 400 rapes and murders each month. During
the same period there have been a number of bomb attacks that have been
blamed on hardline Islamic groups. Under changes to the 2001 Telecommunications
Act that are due to be presented to parliament shortly, bugged telephone
calls and intercepted e-mails would be permissible in legal proceedings.
The proposals have provoked outrage among human rights experts and telecom
specialists, who argue that businessmen in particular would be more vulnerable
to blackmail and industrial espionage. "They represent a fundamental breach
of our right to communicate," said telecoms expert Abu Sayed Khan. "If
they are enacted it will be a devastating blow for freedom of speech and
will turn the country into a police state. "Bangladesh already has some
of the most restrictive laws in relation to internet and telephone access
in the whole of Asia," added Mr Khan. "Such stern measures have not even
been taken in Kashmir." The proposals are the latest in a long line of
restrictions over the last two decades. In the 1980s, the government tried
to curtail the sale of fax machines and photo-copiers arguing that they
were being used by criminal syndicates. Members of the public complained
at the time it was easier to get a gun licence than a fax. Likewise when
the first mobile telephones were introduced in the late 1980s, it was
necessary for subscribers to obtain "security clearance" from the authorities
before they could be used. The government has defended the proposals by
arguing that crime has soared so much in recent years that drastic action
is necessary. (by Alastair Lawson-Tancred)
From http://news.ft.com/ 09/24/2003
TOPˇü
Mobile Telephone Sets Seized
The Customs Surveillance Team seized a total of 115 mobile telephone
sets worth Taka 8.40 lakh from the possession of a passenger at 12 noon
at Zia International Airport yesterday. According to the customs sources
the Surveillance Team seized the mobile sets from Bangladeshi national
Shakib Ahmed who arrived at Zia International Airport by a flight of Thai
Airways (Flight no -TG-321). The Surveillance Team detained Shakib Ahmed
for his suspicious movement and later seized the mobile sets after examining
his luggage. Customs Inspectors Muhammed Wazed Ali and ABM A Kafi detained
the passenger at the directives of Deputy Commissioner of Customs Muhammed
Ashraf Ali Faruq. A case has been filed in this connection.
From http://nation.ittefaq.com/ 10/11/2003
TOPˇü
Call to Support Locally Produced Software
Minister for Commerce Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury gave a clarion call
to the business community and government establishments to support the
locally produced software. He was speaking as the chief guest at a launching
ceremony of the software named TeLIS, a Technohaven Leasing and Investment
System, at a local hotel in the city recently. The function was also attended
by Matiur Rahman, President-DCCI and A Quadir Chowdhury, Chairman, Bangladesh
Leasing and Finance Companies Association (BLFCA), SM Shamsul Arefin,
Managing Director, Uttara Finance and Investments Ltd and Habibullah N
Karim, Managing Director, Technohaven Co Ltd. The Minister congratulated
Technohaven Co Ltd for developing the TeLIS, a world-class solution for
the local financial sector. He recalled Technohaven's pioneer role in
the automation of Chittagong Stock Exchange, Bangladesh Railway ticketing
and reservation system and other large national IT projects. He expressed
his confidence that this solution would not only bring a better and cost
effective business solution for local leasing and investment companies
but also be recognised as a global software solution for this sector.
The Minister expressed his deep interest about the development of IT sector
in Bangladesh. He said that the IT Task Force was formed by the government
to speed up the growth of this sector. He expected that the nation, business
community as well as the government bodies would come forward to encourage
the local IT companies by buying locally made software. Matiur Rahman,
President of DCCI said that this software would help the local leasing
companies to consolidate their businesses and improve client services
dramatically. A Quadir Chowdhury, Chairman, BLFCA expressed his deep satisfaction
with this software and said that locally developed software had the potential
to earn substantial foreign currency. Habibullah N Karim, CEO, Technohaven
Co Ltd and President of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information
Services (BASIS) said that TeLIS- Technohaven Leasing and Investment System
(TeLIS) software was developed in the last one year solely by the local
IT professionals.
From http://www.bangladesh-web.com/ 10/21/2003
TOPˇü
Internet Service to Be Extended to Villages
The government is working towards extending Internet service to the village
level soon, as today's society is being transformed on the basis of knowledge
economy the world over. Information and Comunications Technology Minister
Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan disclosed the plan while inaugurating a three-day
South Asia Regional Network meeting of Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP)
at the BRAC Centre here yesterday. "We'll have to ensure Internet connectivity
in this global village, so we took various steps for providing Internet
facility at the village level," he said. A number of delegates from different
countries, including India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, joined the conference.
The meet is preparatory to the upcoming ICT summit in Geneva. During the
three-day brainstorming on problems and prospects of the potential sector,
the participants will discuss ways and means of maximum use of ICT for
development. Its outcome will be put forward at the World Summit on Information
Society (WSIS) in Geneva in December. Dr Moyeen Khan said ICT not only
can reduce poverty but also can be a tool for good governance. "Using
ICT, Bangladeshi people as well Asian people can change their lives,"
he told the inaugural function. Bangladesh Telecommuications Regulatory
Commission (BTRC) chairman Syed Marghub Morshed observed that for developing
countries in Asia, ICT can be the most important tool for poverty eradication.
Professor Mahmudul Houqe of Bangladesh Friendship Education Society (BFES)
and Reza Salim, member-secretary of Bangladesh Working Group on the World
Summit on Information Society, also spoke. Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelley,
Chairman, Bangladesh Centre for Development Research (CDRB), presided
over the opening session.
From http://www.thedailystar.net/ 10/25/2003
TOPˇü
Lack of Support Puts Local ICT Professionals
on Back-Foot
The Science and Information and Communication Technology Minister, Abdul
Moyeen Khan, said the country has a good number of competent ICT professionals
and most of them are better than their neighbouring counterparts. But
due to lack of proper support and assistance, the country could not utilise
their full potentials, he added during a seminar on Information Paradox
and Possible Solutions. The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI),
organised Software Fair-2003 in the city Saturday. "In many cases, our
ICT professionals are doing better, but due to lack of proper and adequate
support, the desired result could not be achieved", he lamented while
drawing a comparison between local and overseas ICT professionals. Later,
he inaugurated the two-day mini fair in which 25 local software development
companies took part. The minister observed that locally grown software
products were yet to achieve expected results despite the fact that the
country's ICT sector had a large number of comparative advantages. He
emphasised the need for capacity building in terms of quality and reliability
to face the stiff competition and also to remove other barriers in the
sector. Assuring allout efforts from the government, the minister said
they are striving hard to remove the barriers that hold back the growth
of the ICT sector. Presided over by DCCI President Matiur Rahman, the
seminar was attended by BRAC University Vice- chancellor Jamilur Reza
Chowdhury as the special guest. DCCI director Atique-e-Rabbani presented
the keynote paper in which he pointed out that information paradox referred
to the inconsistency between investment on ICT and profitability. Speakers
said ICT has been seen as an alternative option for rapid economic development.
Despite utmost efforts, the country could not achieve expected progress,
they added. They stressed the need for launching awareness and motivation
campaigns for the rapid development of our ICT sector. (The Financial
Express)
From http://www.bangladesh-web.com/ 10/26/2003
TOPˇü
SRI LANKA: Phone Codes Change Today
The area codes for Colombo, Kandy and Galle will change today, under
the 10-digit number plan proposed by the Telecommunications Regulatory
Authority of Sri Lanka. Users will have to add '1' to the existing area
code to get the new code. Accordingly, the new area code for Colombo will
be 011. The new codes for Kandy and Galle will be 081 and 091. As usual,
callers dialling within these areas do not have to dial the area code.
Callers dialling from outstations and overseas will have to use the new
codes to access subscribers in Colombo, Kandy and Galle. For example,
a caller from Kandy dialling subscriber number 234 5678 will have to dial
011-234 5678. Overseas callers should dial 94-11-234 5678. All other area
codes will remain unchanged. Sri Lanka Telecom has advised subscribers
to reprogramme call forwarding and hotline facilities with the new area
codes. Numbers stored in fax/phone machines should also be changed accordingly.
Suntel and Lanka Bell numbers will also be brought into the geographical
national numbering plan under the respective area codes, instead of the
present '074' and '075' access codes.
From http://www.dailynews.lk/ 10/18/2003
TOPˇü
PAKISTAN: Rajanpur Better Micro Credit Scheme
Urged
RAJANPUR -- Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool has directed officials of
the Zarai Tarraqiati and Khushhali banks to widen the scope of the micro
credit scheme in areas like Rajanpur. The governor expressed these views
while inspecting different federal government departments in the district
here on Thursday. During his visit to the Zarai Tarraqiati Bank and the
Khushhali Bank, he directed their high-ups to advance loans under the
micro credit scheme to the educated women in rural areas for setting up
sewing and embroidery training centres. He praised both the institutions
for providing loans of Rs60 million to the unemployed youth in Rajanpur.
Visiting the Nadra Swift Registration Centre, the governor was informed
that the Nadra would also open its sub-divisional offices in Jampur and
Rojhan tehsils. Maqbool directed the officials concerned that mobile teams
should be constituted at union council level for the provision of computerized
NICs to the people. Earlier, the governor visited the offices of the Mepco,
NCHD and the PTCL Customer Service Centre. Punjab Assembly deputy speaker
Sardar Shaukat Hussain Mazari, MNA Sardar Muhammad Jaffer Khan Leghari,
MPA Sardar Ghazali, District Nazim Dr Hafizur Rahman Dreshak and DCO Malik
Samiullah Abid were also present on the occasion. shot dead: A man and
his two sons were shot dead by five people over a minor issue on Thursday
at Dajal town, Rajanpur. Dadu Khan along with his sons Usman Khan and
Amanullah were present in his house when Mian Riaz, Ali Gull, Pandi, Niazi
and then another accomplice came there and opened fire on them. As a result,
Dadu and his sons died on the spot. A case has been registered against
the absconding accused.
From http://www.dawn.com/ 10/17/2003
TOPˇü |
|
| |
|
|
| |
AUSTRALIA: E-Crime Guidelines Released
NEW national e-crime guidelines were launched today to help organizations
deal with incidents following widespread concerns about the forensic status
of computer-generated evidence. The guidelines, published by Standards
Australia, set a benchmark for the preservation and collection of evidence
in digital form, as part of the development of legal standards for handling
electronic information. The aim is to provide clear rules on how electronic
records that may be used in judicial or administrative proceedings - whether
plaintiff, defendant, or witness - should be managed. Standards Australia
says the guidelines will operate as a starting point to be tested in legal
proceedings, and will be subject to review as appropriate. "Recent films
such as Tom Cruise's Minority Report and The Bank have demonstrated the
power of electronic evidence and these guidelines will give both technical
and non-technical personnel information on what should be preserved in
the event of an incident," Standards Australia chief executive Ross Wraight
said. IT evidence is increasingly being called upon as proof of a wide
variety of crimes where a computer has been used as a tool for fraud,
identity theft or other illegal activities, Standards Australia standards
development executive Peter Walsh said. "This will place businesses in
a better position to take action through the courts to prosecute security
breaches," Mr Walsh said. "They will also assist law enforcement agencies
in their criminal investigations by improving the methods for collecting
evidence and making it available in legal proceedings." The guidelines
are part of the Federal Government's E-Security National Agenda aimed
at persuading senior business leaders to better manage their information
risks.
From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 08/12/2003
TOPˇü
State in $300m IP Tender
THE NSW Government is planning to go to market by mid-October on a $300
million per-year statewide telecommunications project. The project will
pool demand for telecoms services for "all the significant agencies",
including health, education and police and emergency services, a spokesman
for NSW Commerce Minister John Della Bosca said. It would be based on
an internet protocol network, he said. A preferred tenderer was expected
to be chosen by the end of the year. The Government is believed to have
selected a short list of four potential contractors to deploy as many
as 20,000 IP handsets across the state. Short-listed organisations include
Telstra and the Fusion syndicate, which consists of Optus, construction
giant Leighton Holdings and investment bank ABN Amro. (by Chris Jenkins)
From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 09/30/2003
TOPˇü
First Identity Theft Laws Proposed in South
Australia
The first laws in Australia to specifically target identity theft have
been proposed by the South Australian government. The state government
today announced its latest string of law and order initiatives, including
planned laws to target identity theft, cyber crime and those who attack
police. SA Attorney-General Michael Atkinson said yesterday that identity
theft, which occurs when people use someone else's personal information
with the intention of committing a crime, would be an offence under the
new laws, attracting a maximum jail term of up to 12 years. He said identity
theft paved the way for terrorist activities, citing fake IDs used by
the World Trade Center bombers and stolen credit cards used by an al-Qaeda
cell in Spain for illegal purchases. "Crooks get this lucrative information
by scavenging through rubbish (dumpster-diving), stealing mail, peeking
over someone's shoulder at a public phone, computer or ATM (shoulder-surfing)
or using an electronic device to scan a credit card (skimming)," Mr Atkinson
said in a statement. "This is the first legislation in Australia specifically
targeting identity theft. "We want to nip this in the bud before the information
is used to help terrorists, illegal immigrants and drug couriers, let
alone assist with money laundering or frauds against people, businesses
and governments." Mr Atkinson said laws were also planned by the government
to target cyber crime. The proposed laws would impose penalties of up
to 10 years imprisonment for those found guilty of using a computer with
the intent to commit an offence, modifying or impairing electronic data
without authorisation and possessing computer viruses with the intent
to commit a serious computer offence.
From http://www.theage.com.au/ 10/16/2003
TOPˇü
NSW Maps State Broadband Plans
THE NSW Government has called for proposals to build a broadband network
to connect its main agencies at a cost of up to $300 million. NSW Commerce
Minister John Della Bosca said the state would use capacity on networks
used for railways and electricity transmission to provide the service,
giving a high-bandwidth backbone network to 24 key locations throughout
the state. Surplus capacity on the network would be made available to
commercial service providers, he said. The government network would let
commercial providers connect to its network. "The NSW Government wants
the telecommunications industry to put forward innovative and competitive
propositions to operate a broadband network that reaches population centres
outside Sydney," Mr Della Bosca said. The network would allow better delivery
of government services, connecting to as many as 2000 schools, hospitals,
libraries, court houses and police stations. "At present, there is very
limited competition in broadband services for residents and businesses
outside of Sydney, so there's little incentive to improve services or
provide competitive pricing," Mr Della Bosca said.
From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 10/22/2003
TOPˇü
NEW ZEALAND: Police Not Equipped to Enforce
New Computer Laws, Says National
New laws to deal with computer crime, which came into force yesterday,
will not work unless the police have the resources to enforce them, says
National MP Tony Ryall. It is now an offence to access a computer for
dishonest purposes, damage or interfere with a computer system, access
a computer without authorisation or make, sell, distribute or possess
software to commit a crime. The new crimes carry sentences of up to seven
years in prison. Police Minister George Hawkins said they brought the
law into line with the latest technology, but Mr Ryall said there was
little point having new laws if hardly anyone was prosecuted. "Already
the police are suffering from under-resourcing, and the police have now
confirmed that at present they are only able to investigate between 20
per cent and 30 per cent of reported computer crime," he said. "It's time
George Hawkins got real with the problems facing the force -- he can't
add new penalties without giving police the tools and the resources they
need." Mr Ryall, National's police spokesman, said money was being spent
on highway patrols and speed cameras but not much else. "New Zealanders
don't want cops ticketing people for driving six kilometres over the limit
as serious computer crime goes unchecked and while burglars have only
a less than one in 12 chance of getting caught in Auckland."
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz 10/02/2003
TOPˇü
Capital Picks Numbers
Positively Wellington reckons the capital could boast 20 information
and communication technology companies with revenues of more than $100
million by 2012. The Hi Growth Project - created by the Government-backed
ICT Taskforce - has enlisted the help of regional development groups throughout
New Zealand in its efforts to foster 100 companies with $100 million-plus
revenues by 2012. Each of the regions is setting goals for how many companies
it hopes their region can cough up and is nominating possible companies.
Positively Wellington has nominated 40 companies to take part and reckons
half could make the grade. The organisation will mentor those involved
to help them reach the goal. The Christchurch Software Cluster and Auckland's
North Shore have also set goals of 20 companies. Auckland is still finalising
its numbers. Hi Growth Project executive director Catherine Calarco says
each of the regional development groups and clusters has promised help
to grow the companies through mentoring. "They've taken it on themselves
to be part of the project and now have a goal to have 20 companies in
the Wellington region which will achieve that $100 million mark and they're
working on identifying them and providing programmes to achieve that growth."
Ms Calarco says 40 companies have signed up with the Hi Growth Project
itself. The companies - whose current revenues range from $500,000 to
nearly $100 million - will receive information and advice in areas such
as government programmes, export marketing and funding. The companies
will also be required to set growth goals and will be measured on a yearly
basis. A new ICT entrant to the $100 million revenue club will be announced
at the Hi Tech Awards in November.
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/ 10/06/2003
TOPˇü
Law a Blast from the Past for Cyber Cafes
A law created to deal with the space invader craze is being dusted off
to help police tackle problems with youngsters spending late nights in
internet cafes. A report by Waitakere police says one of the city's internet
cafes in New Lynn often has "five to six persons collapsed over computers
asleep". Sergeant Brian Louden told Waitakere City councillors that a
bylaw could help put a stop to situations such as schoolchildren playing
games at internet cafes at 3am and 12-year-olds falling asleep there.
He said it was undesirable for school-age children to be on these premises
until early morning when "one would hope they would be resting for the
next day of school". Internet cafes had become more like high-tech gaming
parlours than educational facilities. "I'm yet to see kids doing their
homework in one," Mr Louden said. Instead, children played internet games
such as "Battlefield 1942" for $2 an hour or $5 to $10 for an all-night
session. Police saw restrictions of operating hours as a solution to problems
at some premises with underage patrons, minor criminal offending, drug
use, intoxication, disorderly behaviour and youth gangs. The council's
compliance manager, Alan Ahmu, said internet cafes were a new phenomenon
for the city. They had been seen as a way of providing ready and convenient
access to the internet for gathering information, email and cyber shopping.
But complaints about some cafes had prompted an inspection of premises,
which found the main attraction in them was playing computer games. A
1990 bylaw for amusement galleries, designed to control billiard halls
and space-invader-type games arcades, could be applied to any internet
cafe. Under it, operators must seek a licence. The licence can restrict
opening hours, ban children being on premises during school hours and
require premises to meet council standards. Police have welcomed restrictions
on opening hours as a solution to criminal offending and other problems.
But cafe owners see it as a threat to their businesses. Most responded
by seeking dispensations so they could open for 24 hours, seven days a
week. Councillors last week turned down three bids for dispensation made
by people who the police said were bad operators. Full-time operation
was allowed for three cafes which received clean police reports. The Herald
found later that two of the cafes on the police bad books had closed.
The other rejected applicant, Bruce Wang of X-net Cafe in New Lynn, said
he would appeal against the decision. He said the cafe, which had been
open for a year, had been a trouble-free and safe entertainment place.
"I can't understand why they apply these outdated laws to us. "The police
may as well say, 'Everyone stay home - don't go out'." Mr Wang said his
cafe had the most modern software and hardware in Auckland and was popular
because of its fast internet connection and rates. (by Wayne Thompson)
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ 10/14/2003
TOPˇü |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
AZERBAIJAN: Finance Ministry Opens New Web-Site
The Finance Ministry of Azerbaijan has opened a new official web-site this week. It is located at www.maliyye.gov.az. Though the web-site has been renewed, it has no useful information now. More than 95% of the announced sections do not really exist. The Finance Ministry promises to put the renewed information to the sections of the web-site soon.
From http://www.bakutoday.net/ 10/02/2003
TOPˇü
CHINA: Haidian District Pioneers in E-government Development
A pilot experiment for e-government solutions based on network computer (NC) architecture passed expert appraisals on Sunday in Beijing, indicating the possible large-scale implementation of NCs in China's e-government development in the future. The Haidian District government, with the co-ordination of the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, has achieved great success in the pilot project with the support of the nationally recognized 863 High-Tech Project, said Xing Zhiguo, vice-head of the district government, at a press conference. NCs promise enhanced security, easier management and lower costs, which curtail the government's expenditures in computers and boast considerable significance to the nation's e-government construction, he added. Last year, the Beijing municipal government had envisioned implementing an NC industrialization plan, and has since decided to increase the share of NCs in its procurements in the future, officials said. Different from personal computer (PC) architecture, all data storage, application storage and significant computing functions take place on centralized servers rather than hard discs under the NC architecture. The pilot program will fully enable NCs to serve as the terminal servers to deal with government e-business, including data, text and multi-media information processing, said Huai Jinpeng, vice-president and professor of the university. Having achieved success at the pilot level, Huai said he believed the NC architecture-based solutions could be applied in the field of e-commerce since there are great similarities between e-commerce and e-government in dealing with business and information. With self-owned intellectual property rights (IPRs), the domestically manufactured NCs will help break the dominance of Windows operating systems and Intel's CPU architecture, said Ni Guangnan, professor with the Institute of Computing under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
From China Daily 08/12/2003
TOPˇü
Capital Court Computerized
Local courts in Beijing have begun to use computers more widely when handling cases in an attempt to enhance efficiency and fairness. The new building of the Beijing Haidian District People's Court has become the city's first computerized local court to do so. It is located in northern Beijing's Haidian District, which is famous for its high-tech firms and many universities. At the new building's hall for filing cases, people first get a queue number from a machine and can see information on a screen about the situation in the reception rooms. The court's computer center automatically calculates statistics relating to the lawsuits that are placed on file for prosecution, including how many are criminal cases and how many are civil ones, said Wang Zhenfeng, the court vice-president. Wang said people may not necessarily have go to court to file a case in the future. "We are considering doing case filing via the Internet," he said. A screen outside every court room will tell people which case is being heard here. All that other courts have at the moment is a notice on a screen outside to tell people which case is in session, without any details. The Haidian court has also started opening its doors to the general public during holidays. The first open days were last Saturday and Sunday, when some 40 residents visited, including university students and armed police officers. Other local residents will be allowed to visit the court once every two months in the future, said court sources. Zhu Jiang, the court's president, said: "People involved in lawsuits only make up a very small part of the whole population in our district, so it is important to provide a way for residents to gain a good understanding of the court and of how to handle a lawsuit."
From China Daily 08/19/2003
TOPˇü
Entrepreneur Promoted to Senior Local Government Post
Qiao Zhigang, CEO of a leading software company based in this east China metropolis, will take over the deputy directorship of the Shanghai information technology committee of the municipal government. The appointment, announced by Vice Mayor Jiang Sixian Thursday, makes 35-year-old Qiao the first private businessman to assume such a high post in the municipal government. Qiao started his business in software in 1995, when he and seven partners launched the Shanghai Fudan Kingstar Computer Co, Ltd with a registered capital of 500,000 yuan (US$60,000). The company is now one of China's top four securities software developers and largest futures software developer. In preparation for his new role, Qiao quit as chairman and CEO of his company, and sold his shares in it, in compliance with the rules forbidding government officials to be involved in business. The committee Qiao is to serve is an all-powerful IT watchdog promoting the application of information technology in the spheres of the city's economic development and social affairs. According to officials with Shanghai's Personnel Bureau, despite a 50 percent annual growth rate, the city's software industry in 2002 reported a sales revenue of just 11.7 million yuan, or 35 percent of that of Beijing in the same year. By calling on Qiao to serve the local government, Shanghai expects to get to know more about the software industry and the related market. The private economy prospers in Shanghai and its surrounding provinces more than in any other part of China, according to Deputy Mayor Jiang Sixian. Private entrepreneurs are ambitious andopen-minded, and are now becoming politically active, he said. "It is a milestone in China's politics for private entrepreneursto enter the administration," Dr. Liu Jianjun, of Shanghai's FudanUniversity. The 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, confirmed for the first time that heads of private enterprises were among the builders of socialism in China. Already, private entrepreneurs have been admitted into local legislatures and advisory bodies. Liu said different from career officials, private entrepreneursare less hierarchy-minded and freer in thinking, allowing them to respond to challenges in a more open manner.
From http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/ 08/24/2003
TOPˇü
Academic Website on "Three Represents" Thought Opens
BEIJING, (Xinhuanet) -- A website on the academic and ideological studies of "Three Represents" thought was launched Tuesday in Beijing Normal University. The website, www.bnuonline.cn, is set up for students and researchers to better study the "Three Represents" important thought of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Wang Zhangwei, director of the Law and Politics Institute of the university, said that the introduction of "Three Represents" thought into the Internet will enhance ideological education in Chinese universities. "Three Represents" thought has been a leading ideological theory of the CPC in the past several years. According to the theory, the CPC represents the development trend of China's advanced social productive forces, represents the orientation of China's advanced culture, and represents the fundamental interestsof the overwhelming majority of the people in China.
From http://www.chinaview.cn 09/16/2003
TOPˇü
Hong Kong: Adopt E-Commerce to Enhance Competitiveness
The Government is committed to promoting the adoption of information technology (IT) and e-commerce to enhance competitiveness, the Director of Information Technology Services, Mr Alan Wong Chi-kong, said today. Speaking at the "Enhancing SME's Competitiveness Through e-Commerce Adoption" symposium this morning, Mr Wong said e-commerce not only brought convenience to customers, but also helped businesses expand and create opportunities. Organised by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the symposium forms part of the second phase of the "E-Commerce Adoption Campaign" launched in November last year. "To assist companies overcome obstacles in doing business electronically, such as financial, technical support and information security concerns, the Government has taken forward a full range of measures," said Mr Wong. To promote awareness of e-commerce and the benefits it brings, various promotional materials including pamphlets, websites and CD-Roms were produced. Free seminars and workshops were organised to provide information and advice. One-stop information centres have been set up by the Government and other supporting organisations to help companies access relevant resources. A website "Virtual SME Information Centre" (www.sme.gcn.gov.hk) has also been set up for businesses to obtain information online. This July, the Government injected additional funding of $4.7 million to launch the "IT Easy Link for Business", providing a telephone enquiry service and face-to-face consultations for SMEs when they encounter problems in using IT. To help companies finance their IT projects, funding schemes tailored for different industries have been set up. These include the Innovation and Technology Fund, the Applied Research Fund and the $1.9 billion SME Funding Schemes. The Government has also sponsored the "DO IT! Campaign" initiated by the IT industry to help small businesses join the IT and e-commerce revolution by offering them desktop computers at a low cost of $888. "We are conducting studies on an integrated business entry portal to reorganise and enhance our present web-based services," Mr Wong said, adding that the new measures would be introduced early next year. Information security is essential for creating a secure e-business environment. Multiple channels such as seminars, exhibitions, publications, websites and radio programmes have been utilised to get the message across. Mr Wong believed the symposium would provide an opportunity for participants to share experience in adopting e-commerce to lower operating costs and improve efficiency.
From http://www.itsd.gov.hk/ 09/23/2003
TOPˇü
Hong Kong Government Creates Secure E-Business Environment
The Government has built a legal framework and implemented various initiatives to establish a secure e-business environment in Hong Kong, the Deputy Director of Information Technology Services, Mr Stephen Mak Hung-sung, said today. Speaking at the "Internet Law in Hong Kong" symposium organised by the Institution of Electrical Engineers Hong Kong, Mr Mak said the rapid development in the use of the Internet for e-business had raised concerns in information security, including fraud, data privacy, viruses, worms and spamming. The Government has launched various initiatives to create a favourable environment for e-business. One of the measures is to establish a clear and conducive legal framework that facilitates electronic transactions. Under the Electronic Transactions Ordinance which was enacted in January 2000, electronic records and digital signatures enjoy the same legal status as their paper-based counterparts, thus enhancing certainty and security for e-business transactions, he said. The ordinance also provides a framework for the voluntary recognition scheme for certification authorities. On the issue of cyber crime, the Government is taking measures to take forward the recommendations of a report produced by an inter-departmental working group to enhance the legal framework concerning computer crime. To develop Hong Kong into a secure and reliable e-community, providing up-to-date information and adequate public education on information security is important. The Government has set up the Infosec (www.infosec.gov.hk) website last year to provide public access to resources and updates on information security. In addition, radio and TV programmes, posters and leaflets have been produced to raise security awareness and to promote ethics. There is also a helpdesk service for the public on information security matters. The establishment of the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Co-ordination Centre in February 2001 has greatly enhanced Hong Kong's capability to respond to information security incidents and access relevant information. The centre plays a co-ordination role in the reporting, response and handling of information security incidents. It issues security and computer virus alerts and handles security incidents reported by the local community. Mr Mak said that the Government had been closely monitoring the local situation regarding junk fax and e-mail spamming. Possible measures are being considered to combat the problem in consultation with the industry, but the Government will strike a balance in introducing any regulatory measure in order not to stifle legitimate business activities. On security measures within the Government, Mr Mak said there was already a comprehensive government-wide information technology (IT) security policy which ensured that sufficient and effective measures were put in place to protect the Government's information systems. The Information Security Management Committee and the Government Information Security Incident Response Office were set up to oversee IT security implementation and advise bureaux and departments on IT security issues. "We have taken steps to combat threats related to IT security and computer viruses by continually monitoring the development of IT security related vulnerabilities," he said. Looking ahead, Mr Mak said the Government was reviewing the Electronic Transactions Ordinance to ensure that Hong Kong had the most up-to-date legislative framework to support e-business development. The Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill 2003 was submitted to the Legislative Council this June. The signing of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between the Mainland and Hong Kong has further highlighted the need for a cross-border perspective. Co-operation among certification authorities in different jurisdictions is important for using digital certificates across the border. Local businesses and organisations have established the Hong Kong Public Key Infrastructure Forum to foster collaboration among certification authorities both within and outside Hong Kong. Hongkong Post has signed memoranda of understanding with individual certification authorities in the Mainland, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. Another local certification authority has also allied with its partners in Asia to promote co-operation. Mr Mak said that the Government was actively participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation in its efforts to enhance interoperability of certification services among member economies. Appropriate measures to facilitate secure electronic communication and transactions would continue, he said.
From http://www.info.gov.hk/ 09/26/2003
TOPˇü
Hong Kong Government to Consult Community on Future IT Strategy
The Government will conduct a public consultation on the Digital 21 Strategy with a view to further driving the use and development of information technology (IT) in Hong Kong, the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr John Tsang, announced today. Speaking during a luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, Mr Tsang said the first Digital 21 IT Strategy was published in 1998, focusing on building capacity and infrastructure for both the public and private sectors to adopt IT and e-business, and to become active participants in the information economy. The strategy was reviewed and updated in 2001 to position Hong Kong as a leading digital city in the globally connected world. "Most of the initiatives set out in the 2001 Strategy have been successfully completed. The remaining items are ongoing and proceeding on schedule. We have now put in place the right environment, infrastructure, skills and culture to encourage the development, adoption and use of IT by the entire community. Our progress and achievements have received international recognition. "To sustain the momentum created in the last five years and to harness the benefits of IT for business, the community and Hong Kong's position in the world, the Government has formulated a draft 2004 Digital 21 Strategy and would like to seek the input of the IT industry, business, academia and the public on how we should work together," Mr Tsang said.
The new strategy proposes eight main areas of action:
Government leadership
The Government will continue to be an advocate and champion to promote Hong Kong's international image as a dynamic digital city. We will press on with our aggressive IT outsourcing strategy and e-government programme to generate not only business for the private sector, but also opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and technical development.
Sustainable e-government programme
The Government will focus on driving up utilisation, promoting customer relations management and improving customer interface, promoting horizontal integration in service delivery, enhancing government accessibility and transparency, leveraging the most appropriate technologies, and enhancing the measurement of the benefits of e-government projects.
Infrastructure and business environment
The Government will continue to promote e-business adoption, intensify the support to different sectors provided by the two flagships at Cyberport and Science Park, and strengthen our policies and regulatory framework to facilitate the development of the broadcasting industry.
Institutional review
The Government will consider the case for merging the Information Technology Services Department into the Communications and Technology Branch of the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau in order to have a co-ordinated role in promoting the development of applications and services, supporting the information industry and driving IT adoption. It will also review whether the existing regulatory structures for the telecommunications and broadcasting industries best serve Hong Kong in the era of convergence and deregulation.
Technological development
The Government will continue with its investment in research and development, and foster the development of innovative applications and services in areas including wireless technologies, digital entertainment, and open source software.
A vibrant IT industry
The Government will promote a vibrant, competitive and innovation driven IT industry in Hong Kong, through leveraging the opportunities afforded by the Mainland market, the brand-building and trade promotion efforts of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and various programmes to help the local industry enhance service quality and build capability.
Human resources in a knowledge economy
The Government will work with educational and vocational training institutions and the industry to enhance the training and skills of our workforce and the next generation. The Education and Manpower Bureau is now reviewing the progress of integrating IT in education and formulating the strategic directions for the further development of IT in education.
Bridging the digital divide
The Government will continue in its efforts to organise a wide range of programmes to bridge the digital divide in the community.
The full version of the draft 2004 Digital 21 Strategy is available from the website: www.info.gov.hk/citb/ctb. Comments and submissions should reach the Communications and Technology Branch of the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau by Wednesday, December 10, 2003.
From http://www.info.gov.hk/ 10/10/2003
TOPˇü
E-Governance Gets More Investment in China
E-governance is attracting more investment in China as it proves to be a useful tool for government organs to increase their work efficiency. International seminars will be held this December in Shanghai to discuss how to further boost the IT field to improve its serve. E-governance is the fastest way to connect people and government departments by internet technology. Ordinary people can pay tax and register companies online through E-governance platforms. It is expected that in the next few years, governments of all levels in China will invest 250 billion yuan or about 30 billion US dollars in E-governance annually.
From CRI 10/14/2003
TOPˇü
Shanghai Progresses with an Efficient E-Government
Shanghai government website, www.sh.gov.cn, is offering a wider variety of services and responding to people's quests faster to step up its efforts toward buidling a functional government online. Local residents have got easier access to educational, medical, civil affairs and social security services through a mouse-click via the Internet. Foreigners have cut monthlong process of visa application and export-import operational affairs to just a couple of days or scores of minutes. With a click away on the portal, more lifestyle, business and diplomatic things are facilitated faster online, ranging from civil services to exit-entry applications, and from policy consultations to faculty recruitments, for people both in and out. With a daily page view of more than 200,000, www.sh.gov.cn is selected one of the best two portals among all the 36 online government websites in China by an authoritative computer magazine this year. The other winner is of the Beijing government. In the "government efficiency" round, Shanghai scored the highest. For example, a vice president of a US-based company came all the way to express his gratitude to the portal after it helped the Chinese Embassy grant him an interim entry visa with stunning high efficiency a couple of days ago. With all the application and granting business completed within 20 minutes online, instead of several days offline, the president arrived in Shanghai right on time for an emergent meeting. The high efficiency of the portal has also benefited people in other areas. Online "annual check" shortens the times of visits local companies should pay to the industrial and commercial authorities from three to one. Online "recruitment & test" reduces the official seals people need for their job approvals from seven to one, with out-of-town candidates for local government posts needing to come to Shanghai three times only for writen test, interview and health check, rather than five or more times in the past. Timely reply to needy quests is another feature heralding the city's strive for a functional online government. The taxation and fiscal administration is responding to citizens' online questions within three working days, rather than 21 days offline previously. The information commission has integrated its 18 permit-approving procedures to 14 and later, to nine, shortening the time needed for the ratification for a report of feasibility from 20 to 15 days. Top government officials have also started to read "letters to governors/mayors/directors/chiefs" in person, in a bid to achieve the goal of offering 100 percent reply to citizens in the near future.
From http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/ 10/20/2003
TOPˇü
IRAN: Commerce Ministry to Launch E-Data Website
TEHRAN -- Minister of Commerce Mohammad Shariatmadari said here on Sunday that an e-data website, designed by his ministry for traders and businessmen, will go on tentative operation in the next one month. Shariatmadari said that electronic facilities would cut the expenditures for marketing of Iranian products abroad, IRNA reported. He asked banking officials to adopt electronic facilities in order to help solve certain problems in the field of commerce, including e-money exchanges and e-trade. The minister said a revised version of the state trade law will be in effect next year after ratification of a related bill by the Majlis and government's consent. Shariatmadari said his ministry has benefited from views of experts and academicians to compile the bill. He added that his ministry plans to cede part of its affairs to the private sector in a bid to increase Iran's share in international trade system. Meanwhile, Shariatmadari said that foreign cars would be imported to replace dilapidated cars. In addition, he said that the government is to check price hikes by offering goods and state services to the public at fixed rates and allowing the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) to sell 9,000 billion rials worth of contribution bonds to freeze liquidity. He said the CBI can intervene in the foreign exchange market to prevent any rise in the rates of hard currencies in coming days. As for Iran's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Shariatmadari said Iran would benefit from preferential tariffs in export of goods and services if it joints the WTO.
From http://www.tehrantimes.com/ 09/08/2003
TOPˇü
JAPAN: Japan Sets Up Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting Promotion Headquarters
The MPHPT is working on the overall approach for the smooth implementation of terrestrial digital broadcasting, which is scheduled to start in December of this year in the metropolitan areas of the Kanto, Kinki and Chukyo regions. To this end, the MPHPT announced today the setting up of Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting Promotion Headquarters, with the MPHPT Minister at its head.
From http://www.soumu.go.jp/ 08/03/2003
TOPˇü
MPHPT Grants Approval for Establishment of the Association for Promotion of Digital
The MPHPT today approved the establishment of the Association for Promotion of Digital Broadcasting to promote the deployment of terrestrial digital television broadcasting.
From http://www.soumu.go.jp/ 08/08/2003
TOPˇü
MPHPT Supports Regional Public Network Construction with Fiscal Year 2003 Budget
The MPHPT is working to take concrete steps to develop the installation of a next generation info-communications base, as specified in the e-Japan Strategy II (adopted by IT Strategic Headquarters on July 2, 2003). In order to do this, the MPHPT is supporting the penetration of a regional public network through the work of installing a regional Intranet base that will link facilities such as regional city halls, schools, and libraries. Recently, it was decided to offer subsidies within the fiscal year 2003 budget to regional public bodies to implement regional Intranet infrastructure construction, wide-area regional info-communications network infrastructure, promoting the introduction of regional Internet, and promoting the installation of an info-communications system, as part of the building of regional public networks.
From http://www.soumu.go.jp/ 08/29/2003
TOPˇü
SOUTH KOREA: Government's Online Daily Launched
Cheong Wa Dae said Monday that weekly conferences with 19 top government officials will be held in order to fine-tune the government's efforts to promote its policies. Also, the government began its controversial Internet newspaper. Among those selected to meet every Thursday was Deputy Chief Jeong Soon-gyu from the Government Information Service, who recently sparked controversy by contributing an article to a foreign newspaper in which he degraded the Korean reporters. The government's Internet news service (www.news.go.kr) was launched on Monday despite continuing criticisms. The Internet news service is divided into six sections: general news, media, current issues, local government news, readers' opinions and public officials' opinions. The news service also provides the government's explanations or rebuttals regarding recent press reports, in three separate sections. The first government explanation on Monday was an authoritative interpretation of the five-day workweek law and related wage issues. The Government Information Service's promotion bureau chief, Hwang Hyun-tak, said that the agency had requested that the National Assembly allot it a W1.3 billion ($1.1 million) budget for both its Internet and hard-copy newspapers. Hwang added that this year about W700 million was used for the printed government newspaper. (by Han Jae-hyun)
From Digital Chosun 09/01/2003
TOPˇü
Tophead Promotes 2-Screen Monitors for E-Government
Tophead yesterday held a conference to publicize its two-screen monitor technology at the Education & Culture Hall in southern Seoul. The conference aimed to market its dual-screen LCD monitors as being suitable for e-government, a Tophead official said. The monitors consist of a main screen and an additional support screen on the top, which provides a separate PC work environment. Tophead expects the monitors to act as an efficient display for the development of e-government in Korea. Tophead chairman Lee Eun-suk proposed the government adopt the two-screen monitor for facilitating exchange of information between the government and people.
From The Korea Times 09/04/2003
TOPˇü
Online Civil-document Service Now Offers Home Print-outs
The government has begun to provide new online civil-document issuing services, which will allow personal printers at home and offices to print out desired documents, starting on Tuesday (September 30), the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs (MOGAH) reported. The nation's online civil documentation services have so far been restricted only to the viewing of and applying for civil documents, by ordering documents online and receiving them via mail or picking them up at the ward offices. The addition of the new services marks the beginning of a new era in which complete civil documentation services, printable applications, are available at fingertips, the ministry said. Initially, only three types of documentation will get printout services; including real estate title search, official-list land prices, and recipient certificates of social safety-net protection. Since the number of real estate title searches run up to 19 million a year, the new online services will drastically reduce the number, along with the workload burden, at district offices. The online documentation services are accessible by logging on to the e-government site (www.egov.go.kr) and clicking "online-printing" for printout services. Most commercial printers will respond to the printing requests, and there is a nominal fee for the printing service, the ministry said. Starting in January 2004, the government will further expand the services into six more areas of civil paper documentation, including family registry, building registry, and disability certification.
From http://www.korea.net/ 09/30/2003
TOPˇü
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
MALAYSIA: Minister Issues Malaysia's ICT Report Card
Malaysia ICT Week 2003 kicked off Tuesday at the Mines Resort City here with Energy, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Amar Leo Moggie delivering a "report card" on the local industry's progress and achievements so far. He also laid out plans to promote and enable the greater penetration and usage of ICT among Malaysians, with greater access to communication services under new Universal Service Provision (USP) regulations, as well as the expansion of the Internet Desa and Kedai.com programmes. Malaysia was a leading country among its Asean neighbours, he said, with an Internet penetration rate of about 33%, based on the country's 2.6 million dialup Internet subscribers and an estimated 7.8 million users as at the end of last year. "According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Sweden, Iceland and Denmark lead the world with 60% Internet penetration," Moggie said. "Connectivity is a prerequisite for any country wanting to keep up with the pace of development in the new economy," he added. Over the past three years, the local communications and multimedia industry grew 10% annually on average, while the number of cellular subscribers grew 25% year-on-year from 5.1million in 2000 to 9.9 million in June this year. The number of Internet dialup subscribers grew 61% from 1.6mil in 2000 to 2.6 million as of June. Moggie also noted that while 1.2 billion people worldwide had to survive on the equivalent of US$1 (RM3.80) per day, at the other extreme developing nations were venturing into next generation technologies like super networks with 10,000 times faster processing speeds and 30,000 times greater capacity than the existing Internet. This would have implications on the global trading environment that could place developing nations at an unfair trading advantage and further intensify unfair trading practices, he claimed. He also called upon Malaysia's policy makers and network providers to examine the actual changes brought about by new regulatory mechanisms like the 1998 Communications and Multimedia Act, which are not only technology-neutral but are also based on the principle that competition will lead to greater efficiency. "As policy makers and network providers, it is important to ask ourselves how far these changes have brought real and tangible benefits to the people," Moggie said. The minister noted that many new Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers have sprouted across the nation to offer consumers more varied and affordable choices for making trunk and international calls, and value-added services. Some of the licensed last-mile service providers are now rolling out last-mile access over wireless connections, and there has been a sudden increase of interest among local entrepreneurs to build network facilities based on wireless technologies, he said, attributing this to pent-up demand for broadband services. He however cautioned entrepreneurs to avoid the mistakes of the 1990s, like "over-investing" in network infrastructure which led to an excess of unused capacity. "Rather than flocking into network facilities development, budding technopreneurs should move aggressively into applications and content development," Moggie said. For instance, many software companies have benefited from the pervasive use of ICT in the banking and financial sectors, and there's an enormous untapped potential in the retail, healthcare, transport and hospitality sectors. Moggie said he expects strong growth in demand for network integration services to enable the interoperability of mobile, fixed, wireless LAN (local area network) and other networks. "In addition, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has also been asked to introduce mandatory standards for access, to facilitate maximum use of existing copper and fibre networks," he said. Meanwhile, the number of satellite TV subscribers passed the one million mark at the end of last year, compared to 561,000 in 2000, while a new free-to-air TV station -- Channel 9 -- will be starting up soon. Channel 8 (formerly Metrovision) will resume service by the end of the year. However Moggie lamented the fact that the proportion of local broadcast content was "unacceptably low" and called upon all players in the content industry to address this issue. The minister noted that much still needs to be done to bridge the nation's digital divide, the socioeconomic gap between those with access to ICT and those without. He said that connecting households without basic communication service required faster deployment. Towards this end, regulations governing the USP will be amended to provide greater flexibility in its implementation and enable faster rollout of services. These amendments will simplify administrative processes for implementing USP programmes, be open to all licensees and not just network facility providers, and will also let them freely choose the technology to be implemented. All licensees make an annual contribution towards the USP Fund managed by the MCMC, and the fund today stands at RM400mil. Moggie urged the MCMC to deploy the fund quickly and where appropriate, to reduce or eliminate any red tape "which delays or hinders the implementation of projects under the USP programme." Moggie pledged that at the same time his ministry and the MCMC will continue to play their part through projects like setting up Internet Desa (rural Internet) centres and Kedai.com programmes designed to bring network access to people in rural and marginalised areas. About 40 more Internet Desa telecentres will be added to bring their total to 56 nationwide, while the number of Kedai.coms will be increased from the present 15 to 133 by the end of the year. Kedai.coms are "mini-cybercafes" comprising up to five PCs and two public payphones communicating wirelessly over a VSAT (very small aperture terminal). The MCMC pays for the equipment and operational costs for one year out of its own funds, while the local community provides the premises and furniture, and pays for the electricity. Various voluntary bodies train the local community in using the facilities. Malaysia ICT Week 2003 also included the two-day MSC ICT Policy Summit which had the theme A Roadmap to Global Competitiveness, Puspanita's one-day seminar on how women can work from home using ICT, and a one-day National E-Security Seminar. There were also three concurrent exhibitions -- Asean Communications and Multimedia 2003 Expo and Forum, MSC Expo 2003 and National E-Commerce Expo. ICT Week culminated with the seventh annual meeting of the Multimedia Super Corridor's International Advisory Panel (IAP) in Cyberjaya on Thursday. (By Charles F. Moreira)
From http://star-techcentral.com/ 09/05/2003
TOPˇü
EDS, Opsware Propose Open Standard for Utility Computing
About 25 technology companies are backing a new language to simplify computing for corporations and make it easier and cheaper for data centres to exchange information. The open standard, called Data Centre Markup Language or DCML, is designed to boost so-called utility computing and will be ready early next year, officials said. Electronic Data Systems Corp and software company Opsware Inc proposed the new industrywide standard Tuesday in Boston. Supporters include Computer Associates International Inc, BEA Systems and Akamai Technologies Inc. The standard would allow companies to automate more of the functions of running computer systems that use incompatible equipment and software from different vendors. Marc Andreessen, the chairman of Opsware and co-founder of Web browser pioneer Netscape Communications, compared the proposed standard to the advent of HTML for Web browsers, which standardised making content in different formats readily available on the Internet. "The role that a standard can play is really fundamental," he said. "Standards have always accelerated adoption" of new technology. In recent years, many companies have shifted their data centres to Internet-based systems, causing an explosion in demand for servers and software - often from several different vendors. Companies have hired huge information-technology staff to handle their increasingly complex data-centre operations and other management and technology systems that often can't talk to each other. EDS vice-chairman Jeff Heller said the standard would help meet demands from corporate and government customers to operate their call centres faster, better and cheaper. EDS also hopes the standard will give it more leverage to challenge IBM, which encourages customers to buy their equipment from one vendor. Heller said an open standard for running data centres would mean customers wouldn't have to do that, and added that the open standard "will be very helpful in our struggle with IBM." IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems are pushing their own, closed-end initiatives to automate data centre operations. Donna Scott, an analyst with research firm Gartner, said freer exchange of information between data centres is needed for utility computing to deliver on its promise of better service and reduced costs. Without something like the new markup language, information-technology operations will continue to struggle and managing them will remain very labour-intensive, she said. Opsware, formerly known as Loudcloud Inc, makes software for corporate information-technology departments. EDS, based near Dallas, bought Opsware's online services business. EDS runs computer systems and call centres for corporate and government customers.
From http://star-techcentral.com/ 10/15/2003
TOPˇü
National Broadband Plan
The National Broadband Plan, an initiative by the Government to promote a knowledge-based society, will begin its first phase of implementation next year, initially leveraging existing community initiatives. Secretary-general of the Energy, Communications and Multimedia Ministry, Datuk Dr Halim Shafie, said the communities will include government departments at federal, state and district levels which will be linked through the Government Integrated Telecommunications Network (GITN) and E-government Net. The first phase will also involve a group of 10,000 schools, to be connected under the SchoolNet project, scheduled for launch next month. Another group, Halim said, will be made up of local universities and research institutions, and they will be linked via the Malaysia Research and Education Network (MyREN), a high-speed private network. The aim is to initiate growth and encourage collaborative partnership projects for research and development. It will be integrated with other regional and international research and education networks,?he told Computimes in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. Other communities identified under the National Broadband Plan include the trade and customs facilities community connected under the Dagang Net project, and hospitals and clinics, which will be linked through the Telehealth Network. According to Halim, all users under these selected community initiatives are expected to be linked to a broadband network by end of next year. Meanwhile, the general public can also expect to benefit from improved broadband services now available via the asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL), wireless local area network (WLAN) or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), and integrated service digital network (ISDN), he said. Halim said a Government-backed push for broadband in the country will drive service providers to improve on broadband infrastructure and services to cater to a growing demand of the service. He added that the reduction of broadband Internet access charges for commercial and residential users by Telekom Malaysia has created a surge in demand for this service and thus the service provider, as a business entity, must be able to respond accordingly to market changes. Apart from leveraging existing Government-led initiatives, the National Broadband Plan will also look into improvements and upgrades in terms of broadband infrastructure and systems. It is a moving plan, and the strategy beyond 2004 will be based on demand. For example, when there is a requirement that the communities be linked to one another, then they will. Hence, it is important that private networks linking users within the selected communities share a common infrastructure,?Halim said. He added that as it is the Government's aim to empower the society, broadband access would eventually reach the whole nation, even rural areas. The local penetration of broadband, defined as communications technology such as DSL, direct broadcast satellite and third-generation cellular phones that can provide support for fast and always-on access to a range of communications services and applications, is still low compared to other countries in Southeast Asia, Halim said. Yet such a network is needed to accelerate transformation into a k-based society and economy, he said, adding that last year Malaysia's broadband penetration rate was 0.08 per cent compared to Singapore at 6.13 per cent and South Korea at 19.29 per cent.
From http://www.ctimes.com.my/ 10/23/2003
TOPˇü
THAILAND: Bangkok, Seoul Team Up on ICT
Thailand will sign a memorandum of understanding with South Korea next week to promote collaboration in the field of information and communications technology (ICT). Under the government's plan approved by the Cabinet yesterday, ICT Minister Surapong Suebwonglee will ink the accord during the visit of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his delegation to South Korea from August 24-26. The initiative to work together in the ICT arena on e-government projects, e-education, e-procurement and software development is in line with the Thaksin government's policy to enhance the country's global competitive edge through ICT capacity-building. The parties will help develop ICT human resources and telecom standards as well as set up a joint committee to implement the agreement and review its progress. The pact will last for five years and be automatically extended every five years. Earlier Surapong said Thailand wanted to learn much more from South Korea, especially about the broadband Internet industry. South Korea has the largest broadband Internet market in the world. Broadband Net service in the Kingdom is still in the nascent stage due to high service charges, with only around 8,000 users. But rapid adoption is expected to bring the figure up to 20,000 next year. Surapong has already visited Ireland and Finland to seek closer ICT ties. A plan emerged from the discussion with Finland to establish a joint IT fund to invest in budding projects here and abroad. The premier visited Malaysia last month to improve trade and ICT coordination.
From http:///ww.nationmultimedia.com/ 08/20/2003
TOPˇü
VIETNAM: Strategy Ushers in IT Competition
Viet Nam will open up its market to encourage all economic sectors to take part in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry to raise the efficiency and competitiveness of the computing sector, participants in a seminar on national ICT policy said on Tuesday. The draft was made known at the two-day seminar Paving the Road towards Viet Nam's ICT Strategy, which focuses on infrastructure and industry development. It is the second of a series organised by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommications with UNDP assistance. The seminar brings policy makers, donors and the private sector together to work out Viet Nam's first comprehensive plan for developing its ICT industry. The seminars are part of the National Consultations on Information and Communication Technology for Development project, conducted with UNDP assistance. Participants said that Viet Nam will become a promising market for information technology, possibly one of the top three countries among ASEAN in terms of IT and telecommunications infrastructure. The domestic ICT industry will reach US$5.5 billion by 2010, accounting for 9 per cent of gross domestic product up from the current 1.5 per cent, participants said. The project is in line with the International Telecommunications Union's 2002 country study, which reported that Viet Nam has one of the fastest growing telecommunications infrastructures in the developing world and the fastest growing telecommunications market in Southeast Asia. The annual growth rate in telecommunications and internet use in Viet Nam between 1995 and 2002 is 32.5 per cent, according to the union. The study reported that the total number of desk telephone subscribers as of August 2003 reached 6.4 million, increasing annually by around 30 per cent. The telephone density is now 8 per 100 people. Also, mobile phone networks reached all 61 cities and provinces in 2002. The total number of mobile phone subscribers is about 1.9 million with the rate of 2.5 phones per 100 people. New services and value added services in both desk telephone and mobile phone are also increasing, the study found. The strategy's four focus areas will be upgrading Viet Nam's IT infrastructure, developing human resources, improving IT applications and strengthening the domestic IT industry. Deputy Minister of Posts and Telematics Mai Liem Truc said that ICT was one of the centrepieces in the implementation of the Government's decade-long development strategy. He continued, saying that directive 58 of the Party Politburo recognises ICT as a pillar in the country's infrastructure and one of the driving forces of economic growth. UNDP Resident Representative Jordan Ryan welcomed this move to open up the IT market, saying, "Viet Nam has several distinct advantages in developing its ICT industry. These include a young and skilled, hard working labour force and a leadership determined to develop its industry."
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 08/20/2003
TOPˇü
Experts Plot Future of IT in Viet Nam
More than 500 delegates, including Government officials, specialists, managers and business representatives around the country, are participating in a three-day seminar that began on Wednesday on the development of the IT and communication sector towards 2020. "The seminar will contribute to a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of the Politburo's instruction on speeding up IT development in the cause of industrialisation and modernisation between 2001 and 2005," said Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem at the opening session of the seminar, the first of its kind in the country. The official noted that IT development promotes innovation, rapid growth and modernisation, and enhances the competitiveness of businesses. It also supports economic accession into the world's economy, improving citizens' life and ensuring national defence and security. To achieve IT goals, the State has issued various legal documents to provide a legal framework for accelerating IT application and development. The IT and telecommunications sectors have already recorded high growth rates of 20 to 25 per cent per annum. IT applications have been expanding with 50 per cent of the country's enterprises using IT in their management, production, trade and services. Appro-ximatety 2,500 enterprises are registered doing business in the software industry with a total staff of 8,000. "Two software parks are operating relatively successfully in HCM City, and initially have had some foreign markets, though still small in size," said Khiem. A number of hardware companies, including Fujitsu, Samsung Vina, Hanel and Vietronic Tan Binh, have begun production, he said. The computer assembling industry with around 20 assemblers and their own trademarks have had positive results. The national information network comprising the telecommunication system and the Internet has also proven effective with six million subscribers, and 93 per cent of all 8,155 communes have access to telephones. The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the rapid development in IT human resource training. At least 57 colleges now have training programmers and specialists. "However, there are problems in the IT and communication sectors, including sluggish development, shortage of investment, lack of appropriate policies and a small market share of the IT industry, even in this country," he said. Under the development strategy for the IT and communication sectors, Viet Nam is expected by 2020 to rank third in the region on the growth of these sectors in the communication and Internet infrastructure. It also is targeted to reach an advanced level of IT applications in the ASEAN region by 2020. Topics to be discussed at the seminar through Friday include development strategy, initial results, experiences and orientation of IT applications in HCM City, electronics industry: opportunities and challenges, software exports, applications in the construction, banking and aviation fields, Korean experience in IT organisation and management, and IT human resource development. A software exhibition, Softmart, opened yeaterday at the Etown building in Cong Hoa Street where the seminar is being held, with more than 100 stalls displaying software products and solutions.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 09/11/2003
TOPˇü
HCM City Chiefs Urge Hi-Tech Shift
The industrial sector in HCM City must focus on hi-tech areas such as telecoms, biotechnology and computer software if the city is to achieve sustainable economic growth over the next two years, city leaders said at the 13th meeting of the city's Party Committee on Thursday. The mayor, Le Thanh Hai, said the city would aim to achieve at least 11 per cent economic growth in the next two years, higher than the rate of 9.9 per cent seen in the past two years, but he said there might have to be a temporary slow-down in industrial production to allow for restructuring. Over the last three years, the city has seen industrial production rise 15 per cent, contributing significantly to the city's economy. Hai said that for the next two years the city would focus on developing key projects, including the Quang Trung Software Park, the breeding of high quality plant and animal varieties, and the reform of State-owned firms. Other projects in 2005 would include the completion of a hi-tech industrial park, improvements in garbage treatment and the resettlement of 10,000 households now living along polluted canals. The government would also provide better water and electricity supplies, and improve road traffic management to ease jams and reduce the number of road accidents. He said the city also hoped to increase export revenue by 20 per cent between 2003 and 2005. State-owned firms, foreign-invested businesses and privately owned manufacturers have all performed well, with foreign-invested companies accounting for 27.7 per cent of the city's total industrial production. The new focus on higher technology industries reflected the Government's desire to achieve greater long-term economic growth. The meeting also discussed administrative reforms and what punishments would be appropriate to deal with corruption among Party officials and public employees. Over the last two years, the city has punished 1,440 cadres and Party members for violating economic and Party regulations. City officials also urged the development of democratic attitudes among the public.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 09/12/2003
TOPˇü
President Promises IT Hub Will Receive Support
President Tran Duc Luong has thrown his weight behind the country's information technology firms, promising to cut telecommunication costs at Quang Trung software park, the country's leading IT park. "There is no doubt that it is only with quick and inexpensive telecoms services that businesses, including the Quang Trung software park, will be able to thrive," the President said during a visit to the IT park on Monday. He was responding to concerns raised by the software city's administration that high telecoms charges were making business difficult. The telecoms network at the IT park is considered to be among the best in Viet Nam, with the fastest internet access in the country. Luong said IT development was vital to the nation's industrialisation and modernisation process, and he urged all IT experts at the software park to work harder to attain international quality standards. He also listened to complaints from software companies about difficulties they had in obtaining bank loans, and he asked the HCM City authorities to immediately work out more ways to assist them. He advised the HCM City administration to look for more joint venture investors to help build up the IT park, and he urged commercial banks to offer more flexible loan policies. Luong said the State would do its utmost to protect copyrights on IT products, especially software patents. The director of Quang Trung software park, Chu Tien Dung, told Luong that the IT park now houses 51 software companies, including 17 foreign-invested firms, with a total investment of US$10.92 million. Dung said the IT park hoped to have at least 70 companies by the end of the year, and would expand capacity by investing a further $22 million to attract a bigger work force. The park now employs 2,400 IT experts and students, and plans to add a further 1,000. A total of 10 office projects covering an area of 14,000sq.m are now under construction in the software park, which was created as the country's first IT park in 2001 under a Government initiative. The deputy chairman of HCM City's People's Committee, Nguyen Thien Nhan, said the municipal authorities had invested about VND 60 billion ($3.9 million) in the park, with VND600 billion ($38.71 million) coming from other investors. Luong congratulated the park on its success, and expressed the hope that it would attract more investors and contribute further to Viet Nam's development. On Sunday, he visited the Viet Nam Dairy Product Company (Vinamilk) and some sports centres which will host competitions during the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in December. He said he was pleased with Vinamilk's growth, but asked the company to increase exports, and expand its markets and distribution network. At the Nguyen Dinh Chieu and Nguyen Du sports centres, officials told him that renovations at the city's 11 SEA Games competition venues will be finished next month.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn 09/18/2003
TOPˇü
Govt Wants IT Savvy Population
Viet Nam aims to strengthen the application of information and communication technologies in Government, business and throughout the education system, the Ministry of Posts and Telematics has announced. Deputy minister Mai Liem Truc told the third information and communication technologies round-table in Ha Noi on Wednesday that the adoption of these technologies would benefit users across society. The round-table was organised by the ministry and the United Nations Development Programme, and brought together representatives of Government, business, academia and donors. Truc described the application of these technologies and the development of human resources as the two "children" of the national strategy that will form the basis of Viet Nam's much-needed technology framework. He said the national strategy would establish priorities for technological development, thereby accelerating regional integration and helping Viet Nam become one of the top five ASEAN countries in terms of technological readiness. "Success in this regard will depend on the efforts that will be made by the three target groups of the strategy: the Government, enterprises and users," Truc said. The draft national strategy, released at the round-table on Wednesday, states that information and communication technologies should be applied in all economic, cultural and political fields, and should become one of the most important factors in social and economic development by 2010. The strategy aims to provide every corner of the country with access to information on the internet, and enable residents of provincial towns to perform transactions. According to the strategy, this would be a significant improvement on the current situation, in which the technologies are too expensive for the average person, where the environment is not conducive to application development and there is no workable action plan. The strategy's human resource development section outlines what needs to be done to integrate the technologies as information tools throughout society, through improved training in the technologies and their applications. The UNDP's resident representative, Jordan Ryan, said the draft strategy showed the technologies should not be seen as an isolated industry, but as an approach to realising new possibilities and modalities of development. He said the strategy was about harnessing the full potential of the technologies for all sectors of the economy and society: public administration reform, private sector competition, capacity building and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. According to Professor Dang Huu, the chief executive of the Communist Party's Information and Communication Technologies Steering Committee, many domestic enterprises have used the Internet to develop their business. Information technology was out of the reach of most people, Huu said, particularly those living in rural areas where intellectuals and information were needed to boost economic development. "The State should reduce the cost of accessing communication and Internet technologies. We need cheap computers to help people," Huu said. He said two of the main obstacles to the adoption of information technology were human resources and training. At the end of the year, the ministry will organise a national forum to review the final draft of the national information and communication technologies strategy.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 10/03/2003
TOPˇü
HCM City Sets Sights on 7-Year Hi-Tech Plan
HCM City is planning to spend US$16.8 billion for industrial development over the next seven years, with much of the expenditure in high-tech industries. This amount represents nearly 39 per cent of the city's total investment for economic development toward 2010, said city officials at a recent meeting of leaders of local ministries of industry, planning and investment and the City People's Committee. The focus will be on high-tech industries such as electronics, information technology and telecom companies as well as manufacturing and mechanical engineering industries. The city is expected to earn VND167.6 trillion ($11.1 billion) in industrial turnover by 2010, accounting for 27 to 32 per cent of the country's total industrial value. Over the last nine months, the city's industrial value jumped by 15.1 per cent over 2002, ranking second after Ha Noi which had a 28.5 per cent growth rate. The highest growth came in the clothing and footwear industries. Deputy Minister of Industry Do Huu Hao said the Government has approved the building of a mechanical engineering industrial park in the suburban district of Cu Chi, northwest of HCM City. The 100ha industrial park will focus on the maintenance and manufacture of mechanical engineering components for the motor vehicle and shipbuilding industries. To kick off investment in the industrial park, the city will establish a State-operated engineering company that will initially specialise in the manufacture of passenger buses. In the future, the company will produce other kinds of vehicles and ships. City authorities also proposed that the industry ministry allow the District 5 Engineering Traffic Enterprise to complete its manufacture and assembly of seven-seater cars and minibuses bearing Vietnamese trademarks so that it can quickly replace dilapidated cars and buses. The city is now replacing 1,300 worn-out and obsolete buses with new ones in an effort to reduce traffic congestion and road accidents. Meanwhile, the development of the manufacturing, engineering, ship building and automobile industries remains crucial to meet the rapid economic growth in the key southern economic zones, they said.
From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 10/09/2003
TOPˇü
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
BANGLADESH: Dhaka Plans to Monitor E-Mail and Phone
The Bangladeshi cabinet is considering new laws that would enable the authorities to monitor e-mail correspondence and telephone conversations of the general public. The ruling coalition, which has a huge majority in parliament, says that the measures are necessary to stop rising lawlessness and terrorism. For the past two years the country has been in the middle of a crime wave, with as many as 400 rapes and murders each month. During the same period there have been a number of bomb attacks that have been blamed on hardline Islamic groups. Under changes to the 2001 Telecommunications Act that are due to be presented to parliament shortly, bugged telephone calls and intercepted e-mails would be permissible in legal proceedings. The proposals have provoked outrage among human rights experts and telecom specialists, who argue that businessmen in particular would be more vulnerable to blackmail and industrial espionage. "They represent a fundamental breach of our right to communicate," said telecoms expert Abu Sayed Khan. "If they are enacted it will be a devastating blow for freedom of speech and will turn the country into a police state. "Bangladesh already has some of the most restrictive laws in relation to internet and telephone access in the whole of Asia," added Mr Khan. "Such stern measures have not even been taken in Kashmir." The proposals are the latest in a long line of restrictions over the last two decades. In the 1980s, the government tried to curtail the sale of fax machines and photo-copiers arguing that they were being used by criminal syndicates. Members of the public complained at the time it was easier to get a gun licence than a fax. Likewise when the first mobile telephones were introduced in the late 1980s, it was necessary for subscribers to obtain "security clearance" from the authorities before they could be used. The government has defended the proposals by arguing that crime has soared so much in recent years that drastic action is necessary. (by Alastair Lawson-Tancred)
From http://news.ft.com/ 09/24/2003
TOPˇü
Mobile Telephone Sets Seized
The Customs Surveillance Team seized a total of 115 mobile telephone sets worth Taka 8.40 lakh from the possession of a passenger at 12 noon at Zia International Airport yesterday. According to the customs sources the Surveillance Team seized the mobile sets from Bangladeshi national Shakib Ahmed who arrived at Zia International Airport by a flight of Thai Airways (Flight no -TG-321). The Surveillance Team detained Shakib Ahmed for his suspicious movement and later seized the mobile sets after examining his luggage. Customs Inspectors Muhammed Wazed Ali and ABM A Kafi detained the passenger at the directives of Deputy Commissioner of Customs Muhammed Ashraf Ali Faruq. A case has been filed in this connection.
From http://nation.ittefaq.com/ 10/11/2003
TOPˇü
Call to Support Locally Produced Software
Minister for Commerce Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury gave a clarion call to the business community and government establishments to support the locally produced software. He was speaking as the chief guest at a launching ceremony of the software named TeLIS, a Technohaven Leasing and Investment System, at a local hotel in the city recently. The function was also attended by Matiur Rahman, President-DCCI and A Quadir Chowdhury, Chairman, Bangladesh Leasing and Finance Companies Association (BLFCA), SM Shamsul Arefin, Managing Director, Uttara Finance and Investments Ltd and Habibullah N Karim, Managing Director, Technohaven Co Ltd. The Minister congratulated Technohaven Co Ltd for developing the TeLIS, a world-class solution for the local financial sector. He recalled Technohaven's pioneer role in the automation of Chittagong Stock Exchange, Bangladesh Railway ticketing and reservation system and other large national IT projects. He expressed his confidence that this solution would not only bring a better and cost effective business solution for local leasing and investment companies but also be recognised as a global software solution for this sector. The Minister expressed his deep interest about the development of IT sector in Bangladesh. He said that the IT Task Force was formed by the government to speed up the growth of this sector. He expected that the nation, business community as well as the government bodies would come forward to encourage the local IT companies by buying locally made software. Matiur Rahman, President of DCCI said that this software would help the local leasing companies to consolidate their businesses and improve client services dramatically. A Quadir Chowdhury, Chairman, BLFCA expressed his deep satisfaction with this software and said that locally developed software had the potential to earn substantial foreign currency. Habibullah N Karim, CEO, Technohaven Co Ltd and President of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) said that TeLIS- Technohaven Leasing and Investment System (TeLIS) software was developed in the last one year solely by the local IT professionals.
From http://www.bangladesh-web.com/ 10/21/2003
TOPˇü
Internet Service to Be Extended to Villages
The government is working towards extending Internet service to the village level soon, as today's society is being transformed on the basis of knowledge economy the world over. Information and Comunications Technology Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan disclosed the plan while inaugurating a three-day South Asia Regional Network meeting of Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) at the BRAC Centre here yesterday. "We'll have to ensure Internet connectivity in this global village, so we took various steps for providing Internet facility at the village level," he said. A number of delegates from different countries, including India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, joined the conference. The meet is preparatory to the upcoming ICT summit in Geneva. During the three-day brainstorming on problems and prospects of the potential sector, the participants will discuss ways and means of maximum use of ICT for development. Its outcome will be put forward at the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva in December. Dr Moyeen Khan said ICT not only can reduce poverty but also can be a tool for good governance. "Using ICT, Bangladeshi people as well Asian people can change their lives," he told the inaugural function. Bangladesh Telecommuications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) chairman Syed Marghub Morshed observed that for developing countries in Asia, ICT can be the most important tool for poverty eradication. Professor Mahmudul Houqe of Bangladesh Friendship Education Society (BFES) and Reza Salim, member-secretary of Bangladesh Working Group on the World Summit on Information Society, also spoke. Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelley, Chairman, Bangladesh Centre for Development Research (CDRB), presided over the opening session.
From http://www.thedailystar.net/ 10/25/2003
TOPˇü
Lack of Support Puts Local ICT Professionals on Back-Foot
The Science and Information and Communication Technology Minister, Abdul Moyeen Khan, said the country has a good number of competent ICT professionals and most of them are better than their neighbouring counterparts. But due to lack of proper support and assistance, the country could not utilise their full potentials, he added during a seminar on Information Paradox and Possible Solutions. The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), organised Software Fair-2003 in the city Saturday. "In many cases, our ICT professionals are doing better, but due to lack of proper and adequate support, the desired result could not be achieved", he lamented while drawing a comparison between local and overseas ICT professionals. Later, he inaugurated the two-day mini fair in which 25 local software development companies took part. The minister observed that locally grown software products were yet to achieve expected results despite the fact that the country's ICT sector had a large number of comparative advantages. He emphasised the need for capacity building in terms of quality and reliability to face the stiff competition and also to remove other barriers in the sector. Assuring allout efforts from the government, the minister said they are striving hard to remove the barriers that hold back the growth of the ICT sector. Presided over by DCCI President Matiur Rahman, the seminar was attended by BRAC University Vice- chancellor Jamilur Reza Chowdhury as the special guest. DCCI director Atique-e-Rabbani presented the keynote paper in which he pointed out that information paradox referred to the inconsistency between investment on ICT and profitability. Speakers said ICT has been seen as an alternative option for rapid economic development. Despite utmost efforts, the country could not achieve expected progress, they added. They stressed the need for launching awareness and motivation campaigns for the rapid development of our ICT sector. (The Financial Express)
From http://www.bangladesh-web.com/ 10/26/2003
TOPˇü
SRI LANKA: Phone Codes Change Today
The area codes for Colombo, Kandy and Galle will change today, under the 10-digit number plan proposed by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Sri Lanka. Users will have to add '1' to the existing area code to get the new code. Accordingly, the new area code for Colombo will be 011. The new codes for Kandy and Galle will be 081 and 091. As usual, callers dialling within these areas do not have to dial the area code. Callers dialling from outstations and overseas will have to use the new codes to access subscribers in Colombo, Kandy and Galle. For example, a caller from Kandy dialling subscriber number 234 5678 will have to dial 011-234 5678. Overseas callers should dial 94-11-234 5678. All other area codes will remain unchanged. Sri Lanka Telecom has advised subscribers to reprogramme call forwarding and hotline facilities with the new area codes. Numbers stored in fax/phone machines should also be changed accordingly. Suntel and Lanka Bell numbers will also be brought into the geographical national numbering plan under the respective area codes, instead of the present '074' and '075' access codes.
From http://www.dailynews.lk/ 10/18/2003
TOPˇü
PAKISTAN: Rajanpur Better Micro Credit Scheme Urged
RAJANPUR -- Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool has directed officials of the Zarai Tarraqiati and Khushhali banks to widen the scope of the micro credit scheme in areas like Rajanpur. The governor expressed these views while inspecting different federal government departments in the district here on Thursday. During his visit to the Zarai Tarraqiati Bank and the Khushhali Bank, he directed their high-ups to advance loans under the micro credit scheme to the educated women in rural areas for setting up sewing and embroidery training centres. He praised both the institutions for providing loans of Rs60 million to the unemployed youth in Rajanpur. Visiting the Nadra Swift Registration Centre, the governor was informed that the Nadra would also open its sub-divisional offices in Jampur and Rojhan tehsils. Maqbool directed the officials concerned that mobile teams should be constituted at union council level for the provision of computerized NICs to the people. Earlier, the governor visited the offices of the Mepco, NCHD and the PTCL Customer Service Centre. Punjab Assembly deputy speaker Sardar Shaukat Hussain Mazari, MNA Sardar Muhammad Jaffer Khan Leghari, MPA Sardar Ghazali, District Nazim Dr Hafizur Rahman Dreshak and DCO Malik Samiullah Abid were also present on the occasion. shot dead: A man and his two sons were shot dead by five people over a minor issue on Thursday at Dajal town, Rajanpur. Dadu Khan along with his sons Usman Khan and Amanullah were present in his house when Mian Riaz, Ali Gull, Pandi, Niazi and then another accomplice came there and opened fire on them. As a result, Dadu and his sons died on the spot. A case has been registered against the absconding accused.
From http://www.dawn.com/ 10/17/2003
TOPˇü
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
AUSTRALIA: E-Crime Guidelines Released
NEW national e-crime guidelines were launched today to help organizations deal with incidents following widespread concerns about the forensic status of computer-generated evidence. The guidelines, published by Standards Australia, set a benchmark for the preservation and collection of evidence in digital form, as part of the development of legal standards for handling electronic information. The aim is to provide clear rules on how electronic records that may be used in judicial or administrative proceedings - whether plaintiff, defendant, or witness - should be managed. Standards Australia says the guidelines will operate as a starting point to be tested in legal proceedings, and will be subject to review as appropriate. "Recent films such as Tom Cruise's Minority Report and The Bank have demonstrated the power of electronic evidence and these guidelines will give both technical and non-technical personnel information on what should be preserved in the event of an incident," Standards Australia chief executive Ross Wraight said. IT evidence is increasingly being called upon as proof of a wide variety of crimes where a computer has been used as a tool for fraud, identity theft or other illegal activities, Standards Australia standards development executive Peter Walsh said. "This will place businesses in a better position to take action through the courts to prosecute security breaches," Mr Walsh said. "They will also assist law enforcement agencies in their criminal investigations by improving the methods for collecting evidence and making it available in legal proceedings." The guidelines are part of the Federal Government's E-Security National Agenda aimed at persuading senior business leaders to better manage their information risks.
From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 08/12/2003
TOPˇü
State in $300m IP Tender
THE NSW Government is planning to go to market by mid-October on a $300 million per-year statewide telecommunications project. The project will pool demand for telecoms services for "all the significant agencies", including health, education and police and emergency services, a spokesman for NSW Commerce Minister John Della Bosca said. It would be based on an internet protocol network, he said. A preferred tenderer was expected to be chosen by the end of the year. The Government is believed to have selected a short list of four potential contractors to deploy as many as 20,000 IP handsets across the state. Short-listed organisations include Telstra and the Fusion syndicate, which consists of Optus, construction giant Leighton Holdings and investment bank ABN Amro. (by Chris Jenkins)
From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 09/30/2003
TOPˇü
First Identity Theft Laws Proposed in South Australia
The first laws in Australia to specifically target identity theft have been proposed by the South Australian government. The state government today announced its latest string of law and order initiatives, including planned laws to target identity theft, cyber crime and those who attack police. SA Attorney-General Michael Atkinson said yesterday that identity theft, which occurs when people use someone else's personal information with the intention of committing a crime, would be an offence under the new laws, attracting a maximum jail term of up to 12 years. He said identity theft paved the way for terrorist activities, citing fake IDs used by the World Trade Center bombers and stolen credit cards used by an al-Qaeda cell in Spain for illegal purchases. "Crooks get this lucrative information by scavenging through rubbish (dumpster-diving), stealing mail, peeking over someone's shoulder at a public phone, computer or ATM (shoulder-surfing) or using an electronic device to scan a credit card (skimming)," Mr Atkinson said in a statement. "This is the first legislation in Australia specifically targeting identity theft. "We want to nip this in the bud before the information is used to help terrorists, illegal immigrants and drug couriers, let alone assist with money laundering or frauds against people, businesses and governments." Mr Atkinson said laws were also planned by the government to target cyber crime. The proposed laws would impose penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment for those found guilty of using a computer with the intent to commit an offence, modifying or impairing electronic data without authorisation and possessing computer viruses with the intent to commit a serious computer offence.
From http://www.theage.com.au/ 10/16/2003
TOPˇü
NSW Maps State Broadband Plans
THE NSW Government has called for proposals to build a broadband network to connect its main agencies at a cost of up to $300 million. NSW Commerce Minister John Della Bosca said the state would use capacity on networks used for railways and electricity transmission to provide the service, giving a high-bandwidth backbone network to 24 key locations throughout the state. Surplus capacity on the network would be made available to commercial service providers, he said. The government network would let commercial providers connect to its network. "The NSW Government wants the telecommunications industry to put forward innovative and competitive propositions to operate a broadband network that reaches population centres outside Sydney," Mr Della Bosca said. The network would allow better delivery of government services, connecting to as many as 2000 schools, hospitals, libraries, court houses and police stations. "At present, there is very limited competition in broadband services for residents and businesses outside of Sydney, so there's little incentive to improve services or provide competitive pricing," Mr Della Bosca said.
From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 10/22/2003
TOPˇü
NEW ZEALAND: Police Not Equipped to Enforce New Computer Laws, Says National
New laws to deal with computer crime, which came into force yesterday, will not work unless the police have the resources to enforce them, says National MP Tony Ryall. It is now an offence to access a computer for dishonest purposes, damage or interfere with a computer system, access a computer without authorisation or make, sell, distribute or possess software to commit a crime. The new crimes carry sentences of up to seven years in prison. Police Minister George Hawkins said they brought the law into line with the latest technology, but Mr Ryall said there was little point having new laws if hardly anyone was prosecuted. "Already the police are suffering from under-resourcing, and the police have now confirmed that at present they are only able to investigate between 20 per cent and 30 per cent of reported computer crime," he said. "It's time George Hawkins got real with the problems facing the force -- he can't add new penalties without giving police the tools and the resources they need." Mr Ryall, National's police spokesman, said money was being spent on highway patrols and speed cameras but not much else. "New Zealanders don't want cops ticketing people for driving six kilometres over the limit as serious computer crime goes unchecked and while burglars have only a less than one in 12 chance of getting caught in Auckland."
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz 10/02/2003
TOPˇü
Capital Picks Numbers
Positively Wellington reckons the capital could boast 20 information and communication technology companies with revenues of more than $100 million by 2012. The Hi Growth Project - created by the Government-backed ICT Taskforce - has enlisted the help of regional development groups throughout New Zealand in its efforts to foster 100 companies with $100 million-plus revenues by 2012. Each of the regions is setting goals for how many companies it hopes their region can cough up and is nominating possible companies. Positively Wellington has nominated 40 companies to take part and reckons half could make the grade. The organisation will mentor those involved to help them reach the goal. The Christchurch Software Cluster and Auckland's North Shore have also set goals of 20 companies. Auckland is still finalising its numbers. Hi Growth Project executive director Catherine Calarco says each of the regional development groups and clusters has promised help to grow the companies through mentoring. "They've taken it on themselves to be part of the project and now have a goal to have 20 companies in the Wellington region which will achieve that $100 million mark and they're working on identifying them and providing programmes to achieve that growth." Ms Calarco says 40 companies have signed up with the Hi Growth Project itself. The companies - whose current revenues range from $500,000 to nearly $100 million - will receive information and advice in areas such as government programmes, export marketing and funding. The companies will also be required to set growth goals and will be measured on a yearly basis. A new ICT entrant to the $100 million revenue club will be announced at the Hi Tech Awards in November.
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/ 10/06/2003
TOPˇü
Law a Blast from the Past for Cyber Cafes
A law created to deal with the space invader craze is being dusted off to help police tackle problems with youngsters spending late nights in internet cafes. A report by Waitakere police says one of the city's internet cafes in New Lynn often has "five to six persons collapsed over computers asleep". Sergeant Brian Louden told Waitakere City councillors that a bylaw could help put a stop to situations such as schoolchildren playing games at internet cafes at 3am and 12-year-olds falling asleep there. He said it was undesirable for school-age children to be on these premises until early morning when "one would hope they would be resting for the next day of school". Internet cafes had become more like high-tech gaming parlours than educational facilities. "I'm yet to see kids doing their homework in one," Mr Louden said. Instead, children played internet games such as "Battlefield 1942" for $2 an hour or $5 to $10 for an all-night session. Police saw restrictions of operating hours as a solution to problems at some premises with underage patrons, minor criminal offending, drug use, intoxication, disorderly behaviour and youth gangs. The council's compliance manager, Alan Ahmu, said internet cafes were a new phenomenon for the city. They had been seen as a way of providing ready and convenient access to the internet for gathering information, email and cyber shopping. But complaints about some cafes had prompted an inspection of premises, which found the main attraction in them was playing computer games. A 1990 bylaw for amusement galleries, designed to control billiard halls and space-invader-type games arcades, could be applied to any internet cafe. Under it, operators must seek a licence. The licence can restrict opening hours, ban children being on premises during school hours and require premises to meet council standards. Police have welcomed restrictions on opening hours as a solution to criminal offending and other problems. But cafe owners see it as a threat to their businesses. Most responded by seeking dispensations so they could open for 24 hours, seven days a week. Councillors last week turned down three bids for dispensation made by people who the police said were bad operators. Full-time operation was allowed for three cafes which received clean police reports. The Herald found later that two of the cafes on the police bad books had closed. The other rejected applicant, Bruce Wang of X-net Cafe in New Lynn, said he would appeal against the decision. He said the cafe, which had been open for a year, had been a trouble-free and safe entertainment place. "I can't understand why they apply these outdated laws to us. "The police may as well say, 'Everyone stay home - don't go out'." Mr Wang said his cafe had the most modern software and hardware in Auckland and was popular because of its fast internet connection and rates. (by Wayne Thompson)
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ 10/14/2003
TOPˇü
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
AFGHANISTAN: Afghanistan Revives Telecommunications
and Postal Services
With an average of only two telephones per 1,000 people, among the lowest
coverage in the world, Afghanistan has taken a major step to increase
access and improve telecommunications services with the support of a US$22
million credit approved today by the World Bank's International Development
Association. The majority of Ministries in Kabul, along with most provincial
capitals, have extremely limited access to telecommunications and the
internet. Postal services are also recovering from years of conflict.
While there is a post office in every district, the majority are dilapidated
and lack even such basic equipment as scales and franking machines. The
World Bank financing will support an Emergency Telecommunications Project
which will assist in developing a government communications network linking
ministries in Kabul with the provinces. It will also encourage the growth
of private competition among telecommunications networks and services.
"We need to modernize and quickly expand telecommunications networks and
services throughout the country to reconnect people and develop our social
and economic system," said Eng. Mohammad Masoom Stanakzai, Afghanistan
Telecommunications Minister. "To achieve this, we recognize the importance
of creating the right conditions for open competition and private sector
investment in delivering these services. "The government network, combined
with the growth of telecommunications access, is also expected to support
the delivery of public services and improve governance through faster
information flow regarding government activities at both the provincial
and national level. The credit will also support capacity building and
purchase of basic equipment for post offices. "It is urgent for the government
to be able to communicate both internally and with its many development
partners. We believe this project will play a major role in building that
capacity," said Charles J. Kenny, a World Bank Telecommunications Specialist
and Project Task Leader. "The government has also shown its commitment
to building a vibrant, competitive telecommunications sector that provides
widespread access to affordable services. The assistance provided by the
World Bank under this project should help it to reach thatgoal. "The new
financing builds upon assistance the World Bank and other donors have
already provided to the communications sector in Afghanistan. Existing
World Bank grants have supported the licensing of two mobile telephone
operators and movement toward the creation of a telecom law and regulatory
institutions. In May 2003, the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF),
administered by the World Bank, provided US$3 million in grants to support
the rehabilitation of a satellite earth station in Kabul, repair of a
microwave link to neighboring countries, as well as installation of a
basic billing system. This project will allow for greatly improved international
connectivity supporting the flow of voice and data traffic between Afghanistan
and the rest of the world. The installation of a billing system will ensure
sustainability of the services while raising much needed funds for further
network expansion. The Emergency Communications Project will provide investment
and technical assistance resources to the Ministry of Telecommunications.
It will help it address inter-government communications needs through
developing a government intranet; supporting basic postal services; strengthening
government institutions; and fostering the growth of private sector-led
telecommunication services. The project will be implemented over a period
of four years by the Ministry of Telecommunications. The IDA credit for
the Emergency Communications Project carries no interest, a0.75 percent
service charge, and has a 40-year maturity, with a 10-year grace period.
From http://www.afgha.com/ 10/07/2003
TOPˇü
KAZAKHSTAN: First Issue of "IT Magazine" Out
The first issue of the "IT Magazine" dealing with the development stages
of the informational and communication technologies has come out in Azerbaijan.
The magazine contains articles, which are of great interest to readers
for both beginners and specialists working in the IT sphere and recommendations.
Taking into consideration that fact that there were a longstanding necessity
for this magazine and now we can say that this gap is filled. The magazine
is designed for cooperation with the world community. The first issue
contains an interview with Azerbaijan representatives along with the large
interview of the UNESCO IT department Ms. Elizabeth Longward in English.
At the Azerbaijan Exhibition "International Telecommunication and Information
Technologies- BakuTel 2003" held on 1-3 October the participants were
presented the first issues. We wish every success to the magazine, which
will be somewhat of a bridge between the public and IT.
From http://www.bakutoday.net/ 10/04/2003
TOPˇü
CHINA: Shanghai to Erect Credit Database
Shanghai government on July 30 announced it will complete a comprehensive
credit database covering most Shanghai individuals and enterprises within
three years. By the end of 2005, more than 80 per cent of large enterprises
and 50 per cent of the small and medium-sized enterprises in Shanghai
will have their credit information collected on the database, allowing
for their credit records to be checked and publicized, said Shanghai municipal
government spokesman Jiang Lan. He noted that the project, which originally
aimed to provide a credit information platform for local commercial banks,
also encourages local individuals and enterprises to look after their
credibility. According to the spokesman, the credit information collected
will not cover confidential business information, or any other private
details such as religious beliefs, health status or personal property.
From China Daily 07/31/2003
TOPˇü
Shanghai Reports Robust Growth in IT Industry
Shanghai recorded more than 110 billion yuan (approximately US$13.25
billion) in the total output value of the information technology industry
and related service revenue in the first six months of the year, up 43.8
percent from the same period last year. The IT industry accomplished 28.54
billion yuan (about US$3.44 billion) in added value from January to June,
accounting for 10.1 percent of the municipality's gross domestic product
(GDP), a record high, said the Shanghai Municipal Office for Information
Industry. The information product manufacturing sector created 86.6 billion
yuan (about US$10.43 billion) in total industrial output value in the
first six months of 2003, a rise of 47 percent or 14 percent more than
the average industrial growth rate of the city. Shanghai municipality
also raked in 24.2 billion yuan (some 2. US$92 billion) in information
service revenue in the first half of the year, up 33.2 percent. Integrated
circuits and software parts exports were major powerhouses spurring development
of the city's IT industry. So far, 150 IC projects have been built or
are under construction across the city, with total investment exceeding
US$10 billion. The city exported nearly US$6 billion worth of information
products in the first six months of the year, accounting for about 30
percent of the city's total export.
From http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/ 08/03/2003
TOPˇü
Suzhou Becomes World's Leading Notebook PC Production
Base
The scenic city of Suzhou in east China has become the biggest laptop
computer production center in the world with an annual output close to
10 million units, about a quarter of the world's total. The top nine computer
companies in Taiwan have set up factories in Suzhou, including Uniwell
Compute Corp., Acer Inc. and Mitac International Corp. Uniwell's overall
production capacity in Suzhou, about 100 km from Shanghai in the east,
is close to 1 million units per year thanks to the recent operation of
a new workshop in the Suzhou Industrial Park. The company said its annual
capacity will be raised to 5 million units after all its factory buildings
and production lines in Suzhou become operational. Samsung Electronics
Co. of the Republic of Korea also plans to locate its notebook computer
production line in Suzhou, with a target output of half a million units
a year. The information industry has become the No. 1 industrial sector
of the city, where investment from some 700 Taiwanese firms accounts for
40 percent of the industry's total.
From China Daily 08/05/2003
TOPˇü
Management Software Giant Sets Up R&D; Center
in Shanghai
Systems Union Group, a world's leading supplier of financial and business
management software, has set up its first subsidiary and research and
development center in Shanghai, the biggest city in China. Ashley Clarke,
executive president of the group's Asia and Pacific department, said that
China was the fastest-growing market for financial management and intelligent
software in the Asia and Pacific region with an average annual growth
rate of 30 percent in the past five years. The center is the only research
and development institution setup by the group outside Britain, where
the company is based. Iain Bishop, who is in charge of the group's research
and development, said the Shanghai center would focus on financial software
products for four-star hotels and the manufacturing sector, and was considering
transferring some core business from its headquarters. The software produced
by the group is published in 30 different languages, which are suitable
for multinationals with global markets.
From Xinhua News Agency 08/09/2003
TOPˇü
Zhongguancun Companies Exceed 10,000
More than 10,000 companies have entered Zhongguancun High-tech Park in
Beijing, which is dubbed China's Silicon Valley, with an average one more
company born into the park every 6.5 minutes, Eastday.com said on Aug.11.
Citing data from Beijing Haidian District Industrial and Commercial Administration,
the report said 10,398 enterprises had been registered in the park by
the end of July, with capital topping 6.8 billion yuan (US$822 million).
Of the enterprises, 84 are launched by personnel returned from overseas
and 2,698 are in the hi-tech sector. The booming number of park tenants
has resulted from the administration reforms the local market watchdog
has carried out in enterprise registration progress and methods. To make
it easier to register a company, the industrial and commercial administration
has launched an online registration service at its official website of
http://www.hd315.gov.cn, which is faster, easier and less costly than
the previous paper work. Registers only need to download the reforms from
the website and return them to the administration office to obtain the
business license after filling them out.
From http://www.eastday.com 08/11/2003
TOPˇü
Shanghai Bank Launched Rate Monitoring System
Shanghai branch of People's Bank of China, the nation's central bank,
has taken the lead nationwide to publish its interest rate monitoring
and information revealing regulation, International Financial News reported
on Aug.14. United with Nation Interbank Funding Center, it has developed
an interest rate monitoring computer system based on the regulation, the
same report said. The system has started operation since this month on
www.Chinamoney.com.cn, the joint official website of the interbank funding
center and China Foreign Exchange Trade Center. The rate monitoring system
is aimed at providing an interactive platform between the central bank
and the financial institutions as well as setting good order for the local
financial market, the regulation states.
From Eastday.com 08/14/2003
TOPˇü
Nearly 50 Pct of Taiwanese Use Broad-Band Internet
Connection
TAIPEI - Nearly half the population of Taiwan uses a broadband connection
to surf the Internet, according to a survey released Monday. The results
of the survey conducted by Taiwan Network Information Center in July showed
that the number of people who used the Internet totaled 11.75 million
as of July, accounting for 57.23 per cent of Taiwan's population. Of this
figure, 9.37 million people had broadband connections, with 30 per cent
of the households which have not yet been connected to the Internet saying
they would be hooked up within the next six months.
From http://www.asiapulse.com/ 08/18/2003
TOPˇü
Big Cities Joint to Crack Down on Pirated Software
Big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have joined together
to fight the making and selling of pirated software. Launched by the Chinese
Copyright Administration, the four-month-long campaign will crack down
on the trade in pirated software and thereby cut off its marketing channels.
Officials from the administration say they will expose and severely punish
those found guilty of dealing in pirated software, prevent the spread
of such software via the Internet and clamp down on related illegal activities
so as to foster an orderly, well-regulated software market.
From CRI 09/08/2003
TOPˇü
Small-Business Software Launched
SAP China, the Chinese branch firm of the world's largest enterprise
management and collaboration e-commerce solutions provider, has unveiled
SAP Business One Chinese version solutions for Chinese small and medium-
sized businesses, and branches of large enterprises. The solution, designed
specifically to meet the needs of growing Chinese enterprises, provides
small and medium-sized businesses with greater control of expanding resources
and the ability to manage their interactions with customers, suppliers
and employees.
From China Daily 09/12/2003
TOPˇü
Shanghai Customs Computer System Restored
The computerized port management system at Shanghai Customs resumed operation
Saturday morning after 16hours of emergency repair. It was the first time
that Shanghai Customs had experienced a breakdown of its computer hardware
system. At 8:20a.m.Friday,the mainframe computer malfunctioned. After
initial investigation, technicians excluded an intended breach or illegal
operation. To ensure smooth processing of cargo waiting at the port, officials
started a hand-written procedure immediately and worked non-stop until
all the goods had passed through ports. Shanghai Customs is one of the
busiest customs in the country. In the past two years, there were two
breakdowns in its computer system. But both were process faults which
were repaired quickly. Shanghai customs has taken measures to prevent
similar problems and a backup data processing center will be set up as
soon as possible.
From http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/ 09/14/2003
TOPˇü
New School of Microelectronics Opens in Shanghai
Jiao Tong University launched a school of microelectronics yesterday.
As one of nine national training centers, the school aims to bridge academic
research and the need for IT professionals. The school has signed cooperation
pacts with a batch of local companies such as IBM, Motorola and Cadence
to offer internships. The school will enroll some 3,000 students by 2005.
From http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/ 09/25/2003
TOPˇü
Hong Kong: e-Banking Security Stepped Up
All 35 authorised institutions offering e-banking services have installed
digital certificates on their servers, allowing customers to verify the
authenticity of e-banking websites. Responding to a question in the Legislative
Council today, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Frederick
Ma said the Monetary Authority issued a guidance note in July 2000 requiring
the institutions to implement appropriate measures, such as digital certificates,
for customers to verify the identity and genuineness of their websites.
The guidance note, however, does not mandate the use of digital certificates
for authenticating electronic messages due to certain technical limitations,
he said. The authority then recommended a more pragmatic approach in May.
The proposals included: * ensuring that e-banking customers are made aware
the institution or its agents/business partners will never ask for customers'
sensitive account information (such as PIN numbers or passwords) by e-mail;
* advising their e-banking customers of ways to ensure that they are communicating
with the official site, such as by checking the digital certificate of
the e-banking site; * searching the Internet regularly to see if there
are other websites with domain names which could be mistaken for that
of the institution or websites which have established hyperlinks to its
site; * if the intent of these websites is doubtful, the institution should
consider disputing the use of those similar domain names or seeking the
assistance of the Police or the authority; and, * the authority, Police
and the Association of Banks have co-operated to launch a consumer education
programme to promote awareness of e-banking security precautions among
the general public.
From http://www.news.gov.hk/ 10/15/2003
TOPˇü
E-commerce Websites Set to Boom
Experts predicted great potential for the development of China's electronic
commerce (e-commerce) websites at the 2003 general assembly of the China
Electronic Commerce Association (CECA). Dai Haiping, secretary general
of CECA's tax branch, said it was easy for e-commerce websites targeting
particular audiences to develop their own groups of loyal buyers as long
as their services were properly oriented. Dai said this had been proved
by the success of some e-commerce websites like on-line bookstore dangdang.com
and Chinese domain name service provider 3721. Websites for the trading
of antiques, jade and stamps had their own groups of customers, which
were stable and growing. The operation mode of these websites was worth
studying, Dai said. China's e-commerce had entered a development stage
which would see a boom of e-commerce websites. Before 2001, e-commerce
websites were mainly those established by IT businesses and e-commerce
service providers.
From Xinhua News Agency 10/17/2003
TOPˇü
Shanghai Rises as Hub for Software
Shanghai software companies are embracing an increasing amount of outsourcing
orders as overseas technology giants recognize the city's strength in
talent and relatively lower costs. "The city's software outsourcing industry
has taken off in the past few years and its growing strengths have persuaded
many multinationals to shift orders here from former star countries like
India and Ireland," said Song Jinbiao, director of the technology import
and export department at Shanghai Foreign Economic Relations and Trade
Commission. He made the remark as the city announced yesterday it is hosting
the Global IT Outsourcing Summit 2003 from October 14 to 15. About a dozen
executives from information technology giants such as NEC Corp, Tata Group,
Microsoft Corp and NTT Data will give keynote speeches at the event. As
of the end of last year, Shanghai had 1,207 major software companies with
revenue totaling 11.7 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion). Software exports
were valued at US$175 million last year, nearly 2.4 times more than that
of 2000. They accounted for about 12 percent of the country's total. "The
majority of the exports are out-sourcing projects from overseas," Song
said. Shanghai's software is mainly exported to Japan, Europe, the United
States and regions of Hong Kong and Taiwan. So far, Japanese companies
such as NEC and Fujitsu have set up sub-contract centers in the city.
They are responsible for passing the orders to Shanghai's software exporters.
In addition, Microsoft Corp and Hewlett-Packard have set up global software
research and development centers in the city, while Ericsson AB has opened
a telecom-munications software research and development center. Indian
software giants National Institution Information Technology - better known
as NIIT - Tata and Infosys have also set up businesses locally, laying
a solid base for Shanghai's software outsourcing industry. Wang Deming,
president of Shanghai Venus Software Ltd, a local company which mainly
targets the Japanese outsourcing market, said its export business witnessed
a noticeable rise last year. "The company's clients such as NTT Data and
NEC have shifted a big part of their orders from India to China," he said.
"Japan's sagging economy has also pushed them to outsource orders to lower-cost
markets such as China." Wang's company, which employs about 500 people,
has enjoyed an average 20 percent growth in export orders since the early
1990s. Last year, it sold US$4 million worth of orders to Japan. Wang
expects the figure to jump by 50 percent to reach US$6 million this year.
"Compared with India, China has advantages in language, location and a
lower cost of software engineers," he said. Companies have to pay, on
average, US$3,000-US$4,000 to each Indian engineer per month, while their
Chinese counterpart costs US$2,000-US$3,000. Last year, Shanghai also
had 86 IT companies with more than US$500,000 in software exports, 22
more than in 2001.
From http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/ 09/20/2003
TOPˇü
IRAQ: Lucent to Rebuild Baghdad Network
Telecom equipment maker Lucent Technologies (Quote, Chart) has won a
$25 million subcontract to help restore phone service to 240,000 Baghdad
households still without dial tones. "This type of work is one of our
strengths," spokeswoman Mary Ward told internetnews.com. "(We have) more
than 25 years of experience deploying, operating and maintaining telecom
networks in the Middle East. We have a large, local and international
workforce experienced in turning up complex networks quickly." The deal
flows through Bechtel, a construction giant chosen by the U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID) to design, rebuild and upgrade Iraq's
infrastructure after the U.S.-led war. It's a big job. Before the conflict
erupted this spring, approximately 1.1 million Iraqis used Iraqi Telephone
and Post Company (ITPC) for landline service. But in Baghdad alone, 240,000
out of 540,000 telephone lines are down. Lucent will provide 13 central
office switches, optical transport technology and network management capable
of handling voice and high-speed data transmissions. The work will begin
next month and should take about six months. Lucent's services arm and
Bechtel will work with ITPC personnel and Iraqi contractors to install
switches to bring the lines back into service within ITPC's network serving
Baghdad and its suburbs. In addition to rebuilding the network, Lucent
will train Iraqis to take over operations of the network to ITPC. Bechtel,
of San Francisco, estimates that as much as 80 percent of the actual work
will be done by Iraqi workers and engineers. Still, Iraq is still a dangerous
place, with regular guerilla attacks against U.S. and British troops.
"We have not determined exactly how many Lucent employees will be sent
to Iraq," Ward said. "The number will probably vary during the project
and at any rate will be a very small group of employees. Most of the work
will be done by Iraqi nationals." Ward said the company is "taking appropriate
precautions to ensure their safety and will constantly reevaluate and
adjust our measures." The Iraq deal comes days after Murray Hill, N.J.,
firm acknowledged an investigatation by the Department of Justice and
Securities and Exchange Commission for possible violations of federal
statute prohibiting bribery of foreign officials. The probe, which stems
from a lawsuit filed by a Saudi Arabian telecom company, centers around
allegations that a Lucent employee bribed a Saudi Arabian official with
$15 million in cash, gifts and use of private jets influence decisions
that could help Lucent's business. Lucent has denied the allegations and
is cooperating with U.S. investigators. (by Colin C. Haley)
From http://boston.internet.com/ 08/26/2003
TOPˇü
IRAN: Greatest Digital Library Becomes Operational
TEHRAN -- The greatest digital library in the field of medical sciences
and biological technologies was put into full operation at Iran's Pasteur
Institute. A report released by Pasteur Institute quoting head of the
institute's data processing center, Farzan Majidfar, said that the library
houses a combination of figurative libraries from the world international
network (internet) and digital libraries from domestic network. Majidfar,
the project designer and executive manager, added that the library makes
five million articles and scientific documents accessible to researchers
as complete electronic texts with an approximate volume of 60 million
WebPages." The accessible data consists of a wide range of basic medical
sciences such as molecular biology and medicine, medicinal sciences, immunology,
micrology, physiology, medical parasitology and various other sciences
associated with biological and biotechnological technologies," he added,
IRNA reported. The official said that the library has been developed within
three years and the related equipment were designed and installed in several
stages in accordance with the latest computerized scientific developments.
"Application of firewall technology and fast transmission of data in multiphase
internet sites are some of the features of the library," he added. He
reiterated that the library currently provides users with access to 300
million WebPages containing full information along with images_4 and added
that given the available system facilities, the figure can be raised to
four billion.
From http://www.tehrantimes.com/ 08/11/2003
TOPˇü
Electronic Libraries for the Blind to Be Established
TEHRAN (Mehr News Agency) - The assistant director of the Welfare Organization
said here Saturday that by the end of October, all blind people in Iran
will have access to electronic libraries through the efforts of the Welfare
Organization. Ali Asghar Makarem told the Mehr News Agency that the blind
currently use special libraries located in provincial centers, but from
now on they will be able to use other sources from other libraries. "The
Roudaki Center, a special library for the blind in Tehran, is going to
be linked to 28 provinces, and blind people from different parts of Iran
will be able to use various libraries through the internet," Makarem said.
He added that this project will be extended to public libraries and universities
in the near future.
From http://www.tehrantimes.com/ 09/21/2003
TOPˇü
JAPAN: Loan-Shark Consultation Phone Line Set
Up in Kyoto
The Municipality of Kyoto has recently set up the Loan-Shark Consultation
Phone Line, for consultations regarding illegal money lending. This is
a response to the increasing number of consultations at the Citizens'
Lifestyle Center concerning lenders who offer loans via direct mail and
fliers, then demand illegal interest rates. The service will offer advice
on how to deal with such lenders, and introduce callers to other services
that help handle debts, with the aim of preventing harm to consumers.
The phone line is open from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on weekdays. The number
is 075-256-8379.
From http://www.city.kyoto.jp/ 08/01/2003
TOPˇü
JAPAN: Broadband Users Reach 10.9 M
Japan's overall broadband users have crossed the 10 millionth user mark
for the first time, thanks to a surge in fiber-to-the-home subscription.
Broadband lines grew by 450,638 for the month of June, bringing the total
number to 10.9 miilion for the first half of the year, stated the report
released by Japan's Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts
and Telecommunications. According to the report by NE Asia Online, the
sluggish growth of digital subscriber lines (xDSL) led to a reduced growth
for the month of June, down from May's 520,000. The total number of subscribers
for fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) services rose by 60,000 in June to 458,293,
up from May and April, while cable TV Internet subscribers increased by
41,000 in June to 2.2 million. In a report published by the ministry on
July 10, June saw a small increase of 349,681, bringing the number of
xDSL subscribers to 8.2 miilion. June's growth decreased, compared with
450,000 recorded in April and 430,000 in May. Price declines, an increasing
number of mobile users and increasing availability of broadband infrastructure
will see the Asia-Pacific region outside of Japan lead in the most broadband
subscribers globally this year. Asia-Pacific's 14 key countries will see
a 31 percent jump from last year broadband subscribers, to 21.8 million
this year. They will spend US$8.33 billion on broadband access in all,
up 50 percent from 2002, according to market researcher International
Data Corp (IDC). Growing at 24 per cent a year, there will be 48.6 million
broadband subscribers by 2007, spending more than US$26.9 billion on broadband,
growing 37 per cent a year during the period.
From http://asia.cnet.com/ 08/07/2003
TOPˇü
Japan Plans Biometric Passports
Japan will introduce biometric passports in about a year to work with
the United States to combat terrorism, officials in Tokyo said this weekend.
This is a response to Washington's decision not to grant visa waivers
after October 2004 to people with non-biometric passports. It is not without
political cost, because recent moves toward national IDs in Japan have
drawn criticism and concern about Big Brotherism. The passports will be
smart cards, the chips inside them holding fingerprints, retina scan data
or other biometrics to confirm identity. Japan is one of 27 countries
that do not require visas for its residents to enter the United States
for short stays.
From http://pacific.bizjournals.com/ 09/01/2003
TOPˇü
3-D Digital Map of Japan Planned to Boost Accuracy
The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry is planning to create
a digital three-dimensional map of Japan for use in such fields as disaster
preparedness and fostering new businesses. Ministry sources said Sunday
the estimated cost of the project, which would improve map accuracy, is
7.8 billion yen over three years. It is to start in the next fiscal year.
For the first year, the ministry will seek roughly 2.7 billion yen to
enable it to gather topographical data using aircraft and lasers. The
map will be created at the Geographical Survey Institute by combining
the data with satellite photos and a two-dimensional map. A conventional
topographical map with a scale of 1:25,000, for instance, can show 10-meter
elevation changes at best. But a 3-D version could show changes of less
than 20 cm, the sources said. Such detailed information would allow low-cost
production of more accurate hazard maps for predicting possible damage
from floods or tidal waves. By including rain data, changes in river levels
and the likelihood of flooding could be predicted more accurately. Laser-measurement
technology would also allow better damage estimates by comparing maps
before and after landslides. The 3-D map will eventually be made available
for use by private-sector companies keen on developing new services, the
sources said. For example, it could be used in combination with future
mobile phones that will transmit handsets' coordinates, they said.
The Japan Times 09/08/2003
TOPˇü
KYRGYZSTAN: Local Newspaper Develops Online
News Resource in Bishkek
From August 25 to 29, IATP trainer Alexander Savchenko conducted a Web
design workshop for employees of Kut Bilim, a local educational newspaper,
at the ECA Alumni Resource Center in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The newspaper
covers topics related to education in Kyrgyzstan and various programs
for high school and university students. The purpose of the seminar was
to introduce the employees to website creation and update methods. During
the course, the participants learned the basics of the HTML language and
registered on IATP Kyrgyzstan's server, where they can now independently
update their webpages on a regular basis and create additional pages by
applying knowledge gained during the seminar. By the conclusion of the
five-day seminar, they completed a Kut Bilim online newspaper, available
at http://kb.host.net.kg. The number of weekly printed publications is
limited due to the financial situation of the town and newspaper. Having
created an online Web resource, the newspaper can greatly increase the
number of readers in Kyrgyzstan and abroad and can deliver the latest
education-related news happening in Kyrgyzstan to local audiences.
From http://www.irex.org/ 09/05/2003
TOPˇü
Women's Rights Organization Creates Online
Presence in Kant
From August 25 to 29, the IATP access site in Kant, Kyrgyzstan, was the
venue for a workshop on developing online resources for eight employees
of Chinek, a local nongovernmental organization (NGO) protecting women's
rights in the Chuy region. Chinek's activities are based on raising women's
roles in political, economic, and social issues of the region by providing
seminars on women's rights, grant proposal writing, and how to establish
new contacts with organizations abroad working in a similar sphere. Having
completed the course, the employees learned how to create new links for
their websites and regularly update them by applying knowledge and skills
obtained from the seminar. Chinek's website at http://chinek.host.net.kg
contains the organization's mission, a summary of its activities, contact
information, and a photo gallery. Moreover, Chinek employees hope the
online Web resource will bring new contacts with foreign organizations.
From http://www.irex.org/ 09/05/2003
TOPˇü
SOUTH KOREA: Mobile Internet to Open Up
The Ministry of Information and Communication said yesterday that it
would open up the mobile network in September so that subscribers can
freely download a variety of digital content from thrid-party providers
through their personal digital assistants and mobile handsets. The ministry
said it would give a green light to SK Telecom`s plan to revise the related
terms of agreement in connection with the mobile Internet network early
next week. "SK Telecom needs about one month to review technical issues
regarding content providers and portal service providers after receiving
the government approval, and the formal opening of the mobile network
will be September 1," a ministry official said. KTF and LG Telecom are
also set to follow suit, signaling that Korea`s mobile Internet, which
has long been closed to third-parties, will offer greater opportunities
to content providers and Web startups. Ahead of the opening of the network,
Daum Communications Corp., NHN, NeoWiz and Yahoo! Korea are preparing
their content services that will be able to be downloaded to mobile handsets
and smart phones through the CDMA wireless service. Industry watchers
said there are about 3,000 content providers and online venture startups
that are moving to jump into the mobile Internet content provision business.
Ministry officials projected that the opening of the mobile network is
expected to infuse fresh energy into the mobile sector as the profit margin
in offering a content download service over the wireless network is far
greater than that of the fixed-line Internet content services. SK Telecom,
KTF and LG Telecom have so far favored their own content providers, many
of which are fledgling venture startups, restricting their subscribers
access to only the content suppliers they chose. The current system was
formed as the carriers tried to attract as many content providers as possible.
But the outlook is far from optimistic for small, cash-strapped content
suppliers. As mobile carriers open up their networks for third-party companies,
smaller content providers as well as fledgling mobile game makers could
find it hard to compete with major Web portals. Daum, for instance, virtually
dominates the country`s Web-based e-mail service and online community
services. Its huge user pool means that if Daum offers its own mobile
Internet content to its subscribers, smaller players will be sidelined.
Mobile game developers are also worried about the possibility that online
heavyweights will stage aggressive marketing, even offering steep discounts.
Analysts said if competition intensifies in the second half due to the
open mobile Internet network, particularly in terms of price-cutting campaigns,
some minor mobile content providers would go bust or become the targets
of hostile takeovers. The ministry`s move to speed up the opening of the
mobile network came after mobile carriers witnessed slower-than-expected
growth of wireless Internet services. The Information Ministry asked SK
Telecom to cut the mobile service rates in January, affecting the standard
charges of other carriers as well. The logic behind the government`s move
to cut rates was that data traffic rather than voice traffic would drive
the earnings growth for carriers. Local mobile phone users are relatively
quick to adopt new technologies and services, something that accelerates
innovation and competition, but mainstream users regarded the mobile Internet
rates as too expensive. This has led to disappointing revenue growth performance
so far. (by Yang Sung-jin)
From http://www.mic.go.kr/ 07/28/2003
TOPˇü
Agency Provides Advanced e-Customs Services
The Korea Customs Service (KCS) released on Tuesday (July 29) statistics
on its e-customs services, saying that the number of such services has
reached 10 million a month. KCS first began providing electronic customs
services in 1994 and has steadily modernized the services since then.
Its modernized and simplified services led to a drastic increase in the
number of customs cases it processed. The Tuesday statistics also showed
that by 2002 the agency's monthly e-customs service average reached above
9 million cases, and that the figure posted over 10 million in June 2003,
which meant savings of approximately 2.5 trillion won in handling costs.
The KCS also said that it began in July 2000 to process 95 percent of
the nation's entire exports through electronic means, requiring no papers,
with each case completed in less than 2 minutes. Processing imports also
took much less time, only an hour and a half for each case. The agency
said it would continue to improve its "one-stop" and "single-window" systems
so as to provide its customers with much simplified and advanced customs
services.
From http://www.kois.go.kr/ 07/30/2003
TOPˇü
Sovereign to Offer Web Site in Korean
Sovereign Asset Management, the largest shareholder of SK Corp., will
launch a Korean-language Internet site within a few weeks to improve its
image here. Sovereign will translate its English homepage, currently available
at http://www.sov.com, into Korean to step up its marketing efforts and
dispel suspicions surrounding its acquisition of a stake in SK Corp.,
according to the local public relations agency for the fund. Sovereign
purchased a 14.99 percent stake in SK Corp, the de facto holding company
of SK Group, in April when the accounting scandal at SK Global Co. roiled
the Korean financial markets. (by Yang Sung-jin)
From http://www.mic.go.kr/ 08/01/2003
TOPˇü
Incheon Areas Designated as Free Economic Zones
The Ministry of Finance and Economy announced on Tuesday (Aug. 5) that
it designated three locations in the port city of Incheon as the nation's
first free economic zones (FEZ) under a scheme to create a broad-based
international business center by 2020. Incheon City's development plan,
which the ministry endorsed, involves 20,909 square meters of land in
Song-do, Yeongjong-do and Cheongra areas. According to the plan, the coastal
areas of Song-do will be developed into a business center for information
technology and knowledge-based industries. Yeongjongdo, surrounding Incheon
International Airport, will host logistics industries and the Cheongra
district will be transformed into a hub for tourism, leisure and international
business and finance. Foreign businesses operating in the zones will be
exempt from income and corporate taxes for the first three years of operation.
They will pay only 50 percent of the normal tax rate in the following
two years. Incheon City plans to improve living conditions for foreign
residents by allowing the establishment of education and medical facilities.
It also plans to set up about 100 schools of all levels, including five
foreign schools, three college campuses for foreign students and three
hospitals. The total planned population for the three areas is around
490,000 and more than 60 percent of the entire free economic zone will
be allotted for parks, lawns, sightseeing and other leisure facilities.
In addition, government offices will receive and issue official documents
in English. The government will also relax various central government
regulations concerning factories and large public buildings. The FEZ is
a central part of President Roh Moo-hyun's initiative to promote the nation
as an economic hub of Northeast Asia.
From http://www.kois.go.kr/ 08/07/2003
TOPˇü
Online Mall Opens for Ethnic Koreans
Internet shopping mall Shinsegae Dotcom - http://www.shinsegae.com -
opened a shopping site exclusively for overseas Koreans yesterday in time
for Chuseok, or Korean Thanksgiving, that falls on Sept. 11 this year.
"The service is for overseas Korean students and residents who want to
send presents to families and friends for the holiday," the company explained.
The firm has developed a special identification system so that those who
do not have a Korean social security number can register using their email
address and personal identification numbers. The online store will accept
both local and foreign credit cards, though the accepted currency will
be Korean won. Given these unique characteristics, industry sources say
the success of this trial may spark a new trend among online shopping
services. Shinsegae Dotcom will operate through Sept. 5, or Sept. 4 U.S.
time. (by Yang Sung-jin)
From http://www.mic.go.kr/ 08/20/2003
TOPˇü
Korea Eager to Host Foreign R&D; Centers
The government`s efforts to develop Korea into a research and development
hub in Northeast Asia are bearing fruit, with an increasing number of
foreign institutes agreeing to set up their braches here. The Ministry
of Science and Technology said yesterday that it has recently agreed with
France`s Institute Pasteur and Russia`s State Optical Institute to set
up research facilities in Korea. The announcement followed Intel Corp`s
promise Saturday to establish an R&D; center for wireless and information
technology in Korea. The Science Ministry said it had recently finalized
an accord with Institute Pasteur, a world-renown research center on diseases.
The ministry reached a tentative agreement with the Russian research complex
specializing in optical mechanics and electronics fields when Choi Seok-shik,
chief of the ministry`s planning office, visited St. Petersburg last month.
"Working-level negotiations are underway to follow up on the basic agreement
with the SOI," the official added. The ministry has also been in talks
with Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis to convince them to establish
a research branch here. It also pushing for a project with Britain`s University
of Cambridge Cavendish Laboratory to found a joint R&D; center for physics
and nanotechnology in Korea, he said. The ministry selected about 1,400
potential foreign research institutes and private companies to promote
exchanges in high-tech fields including aerospace, environmental technologies,
information technology, biotechnology and artificial intelligence robotics,
he noted. (by Kim Sung-mi)
From http://www.mic.go.kr/ 09/01/2003
TOPˇü
South Korea World's Most Wired Nation
GENEVA - South Korea has regained its reputation as the world's most
wired nation, according to a report to be released Tuesday. The annual
survey, taken by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), said
21 out of 100 South Koreans have broadband connections to the Internet.
Broadband connections pump data to users at rates 50 to 100 times that
of regular telephone modems. Hong Kong was ranked second with a market
penetration rate of 15 per cent. Canada came third place with 11 per cent.
From http://www.asiapulse.com/ 09/15/2003
TOPˇü
Plans Unveiled to Create 300,000 IT Jobs
The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) on Thursday (Sept.
18) unveiled a plan to create at least 300,000 information-technology
jobs by 2007. As part of the plan, the MIC will invest 46 billion won
in projects to build a database of information and knowledge resources
such as science, education, culture and history in the hope of a short-term
employment boost. The ministry said it will give tax insentives and compensation
to companies hiring more young workers. It will also find and promote
measures to solve the job market problem through existing projects nurturing
professional workers for the IT industries and supporting informatization
of small- and mid-sized companies. Youth unemployment has remained a serious
social issue as the jobless rate for those aged 15-29 stood at 6.9 percent
in August, two times of the overall rate of 3.3 percent, according to
the National Statistical Office on Thursday.
From http://www.korea.net/ 09/19/2003
TOPˇü
Korea to Create 10 Mil. Automated Homes by
2007
Automated homes where residents can receive various services such as
healthcare, entertainment, education, e-commerce and home security via
digital home networking technology will be available in South Korea from
2007. The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) yesterday said
it will start building home networking infrastructure for 10 million households
this month. ``We will begin infrastructure construction for home networking
services in major cities this month. The MIC already secured the budget
for home networking infrastructure construction projects last year,''
ministry official Choi Woo-hyuk said. ``The MIC plans to launch pilot
home networking services in 10 million households in 2007.'' Intelligent
homes enable people to turn on lights in the house, control electric rice
cookers, adjust the room temperature, operate refrigerators and washing
machines or control home security systems for children returning from
school with a remote control device or computer. The MIC predicted a total
of 36.5 billion won will be spent on the nationwide project and said the
government will shoulder 12.5 billion won of the total costs. For the
first phase pilot service, the government will develop various service
models to create interest in home networking jointly with private companies
by 2004. In phase two, the government will focus on developing new service
models that are based on ubiquitous digital communication technologies,
as well as broadband convergence network and Internet protocol version
6 technologies by 2007. The MIC will select two consortiums, consisting
of broadcasting firms, construction firms and two or more home appliance
makers to build the infrastructure and manufacture related devices in
November. The areas for the pilot home networking services are Seoul,
Kyonggi Province and five metropolitan cities _ Inchon, Pusan, Taegu,
Kwangju and Taejon _ that have high broadband Internet saturation and
are equipped with infrastructure for digital terrestrial broadcasting
services. Each consortium will choose two to three regions. At least 1
million households will be developed for the home network service in each
region. The actual construction work for infrastructure building projects
will begin sometime around December, the MIC said. The MIC predicts that
the home network market will grow at an average 19 percent until 2010,
reaching $162 billion. The domestic home network market is projected to
reveal speedier growth of 32 percent annually on average and reach $23.5
billion by 2010. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy
(MOCIE) last week announced a separate plan to foster the intelligent
home network industry. South Korea aims to grasp 15 percent of the home
networking market by 2012 through expanding related exports to 92.2 trillion
won and related production to 37 trillion won, MOCIE said.
From The Korea Times 10/20/2003
TOPˇü
Internet Resources for Young Mothers in Taraz
On August 26, the attending physician of Maternity Hospital Number One,
Maxim Yusupbayev, conducted a seminar on Internet resources for 12 future
mothers at the IATP access site in Taraz, Kazakhstan. Yusupbayev successfully
passed the final exams of the IATP training-of-trainers course, and as
a new trainer, he developed the seminar for his patients. Among the reliable
resources Yusupbayev demonstrated was a website containing everything
about childbirth at www.rodi.ru, an online portal for parents at www.parenting.ru,
and a website for families with infants at www.kid.ru. The future mothers
spent a significant amount of time searching for information on nursing
and infant nutrition and were astonished by the amount of useful information
available and the opportunity for online consultations with specialists.
Hoping to improve their Internet skills in order to better access the
information online, the participants decided to attend additional trainings
at the IATP access site. The expectant mothers will complete courses on
basic Internet and e-mail over the next two weeks.
From http://www.irex.org/ 09/05/2003
TOPˇü
UZBEKISTAN: OSCE Opens Information Resource
Centre in Tashkent
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has opened
an Information Resource Centre at its Tashkent office. The main purpose
of the centre is to provide representatives of NGOs, teachers, journalists
and students with information on the organisation's activity and issues
within the OSCE competence. The centre visitors can also use local and
foreign periodicals, books and publications on human rights, law, gender
issues, as well as Internet.
From http://www.uzreport.com/ 09/22/2003
TOPˇü
KOICA to Open Its Information Technology Centre
Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Tashkent city
administration signed an agreement to set up a KOICA information technology
centre on 16 October. Korean partners issued US$700,000 to this project.
According to the document, the money will be used to further development
of the IT network in Uzbekistan and buy the latest computers and equipment
for the new education centre in particular. The centre will train skilled
staff for education establishments not only in Tashkent but also in other
regions. The participants of the ceremony expressed that bilateral cooperation
will continue in the field of introducing modern technologies.
From http://www.uzreport.com/ 10/17/2003
TOPˇü |
|
| |
|
|
| |
INDONESIA: PT Integrasi Win IT Tender
The General Elections Commission (KPU) announced on Wednesday that PT
Integrasi Technology had been awarded a tender to provide information
technology (IT) infrastructure for next year's elections.The final result
was announced after the five days given to the public to lodge objections
to the company winning the tender after the KPU announced it as the preliminary
winner. KPU member Chusnul Mar'iyah said the commission had delayed the
announcement for one day as the KPU needed time to respond to a number
of objections. Chusnul, who is in charge of the IT tender, just returned
from Morocco on Wednesday.
From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 10/23/2003
TOPˇü
MALAYSIA: E-passport for Thais Planned
MULTIMEDIA Development Corp Sdn Bhd (MDC) will work with the National
Electronic & Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) to develop e-passport
which will facilitate Thailand and Malaysian immigration. "MDC will work
with Nectec to transfer the e-passport platform used in Malaysia to Thailand,"
MDC senior vice-president Dr Muhammad Ghazie said. He added that there
were five other areas of collaboration with Nectec. Ghazie was speaking
to Starbiz at the sidelines of the Technology and Business Partnership
Dialogue 2003 in Langkawi. He said MDC would also work with Nectec on
the development and implementation of the general multi-purpose card in
Thailand. "We will explore potential research and development cooperation
on smart card integrated circuit chip and other related products," he
added. Ghazie said MDC and Nectec would develop the next generation Internet,
Internet protocol version 6, to connect Thailand and Malaysia. "We will
explore developing a world class network matching the aggregated needs
of Asia's Academic Network, advanced test-beds for integration and validation
of next generation computers, networking, applications and services,"
he added. Ghazie said the collaboration with Nectec would focus on promoting
electronic commerce for adoption in local enterprises in Malaysia and
Thailand. "Besides local enterprises, we will promote the adoption of
electronic commerce for government e-procurement and trade electronic
data interchange," he said. According to Ghazie, MDC and Nectec will also
work on exchanging information and experience on the development, implementation
and harmonization of cyber-laws. "We will cooperate in software and content
development for broadband and satellite applications. "We will also build
up partnership in the software sector to explore third country market
opportunities," he said.
From http://biz.thestar.com.my/ 08/01/2003
TOPˇü
Time Dotcom Secures Its Connections
Network services provider Asia Netcom has a "strategic working relationship"
with Time dotCom Bhd to provide fully secured high capacity connections
for endusers in Malaysia. In a statement, Asia Netcom said it was chosen
as one of the major provider for Time dotCom's International Private Line
(IPL) based on its ability to deliver on all key requirements mandated
by the latter, including reliable after-sales service through its 24x7
service centre, one-stop solution for all network service issues and real-time
delivery on all applications. Asia Netcom's Private Line Service is based
on a city-to-city network that provides both door-to-door connectivity
as well as flexible POP (Point-of-Presence) interconnections in major
Asian markets and other key business destinations worldwide, the company
claimed. Built on a fully redundant architecture and operated on a seamless
pan-Asian network that Asian Netcom owns, its Private Line product ensures
the highest availability and performance levels, along with unmatched
service. Formed in 2003 by a consortium led by China Netcom, which includes
Newbridge Capital and Softbank Asia Infrastructure Fund, Asia Netcom is
headquartered in Hong Kong. It owns and operates its own 19,500km regional
fibre optic submarine cable system and offers a comprehensive portfolio
of enterprise and carrier services.
From http://star-techcentral.com/ 09/04/2003
TOPˇü
Enhancing Business With Mapping Info
BUSINESSES in the near future can expect to gain more accurate knowledge
of their consumers with the marrying of traditionally-based business intelligence
systems with accurate digital mapping information, according to mapping
software specialist MapInfo Corp (www.mapinfo.com). "MapInfo has the expertise
in the application of location intelligence to business analytics," said
Mark Cattini, its president and chief executive officer. Cattini, who
spoke to In.Tech in Petaling Jaya this week, said that traditional business
analytics companies' strength lie in crunching raw data and making sense
of it. "You could have a business intelligence tool, from any vendor,
that gathers and processes massive data sets and have algorithms running
up and down and figuring out what the linkage and correlation patterns
are. "But what these companies don't have is the ability to correlate
them based on location," he claimed. MapInfo's group vice-president of
sales and marketing Gavin Lennox added that location is often a variable
rather than an analytical discipline in itself in the field of competitive
analysis. "It's merely an address in a table, which can be grouped together
for intelligence purposes," he said. Lennox said that MapInfo is able
to provide the technology and the understanding of the spatial interactions
between those addresses. Cattini revealed that one area of growth that
MapInfo plans to expand on is the application of location technology to
the retail segment. He said that MapInfo's software gives companies the
ability to understand geographic relationships between points on the Earth's
surface. "Our technology allows us to bring the reality of location into
solving a problem. For example, if there are two stores near a group of
consumers, these stores would be interested in knowing how long it would
take for consumers to get to the store or which store they would choose
to go to and why. "With the collaboration of traditional business analytics
and MapInfo's products, the stores would be able to understand the physical
network of roads leading to the stores, how long it would take a consumer
to get to the store or a competing store and what the impact of that distance
is," he explained. He added that MapInfo has a number of global strategic
agreements with renowned business intelligence vendors such as, Cognos
Inc and Business Objects Inc. "In fact we have our technology embedded
in Cognos," he said. Meanwhile, as part of its ongoing expansion into
Asia, MapInfo signed an exclusive international distributor agreement
with Map Information Solutions Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian provider of geographic
information systems (GIS) solutions. Under this agreement, Map Information
Solutions will offer customised and packaged MapInfo solutions in Malaysia.
These solutions are built with advanced GIS technologies and a broad portfolio
of software and data products designed to meet the growing demand for
spatial applications throughout Malaysia. "These agreements are indicative
of MapInfo's commitment to Malaysia. We are pleased to have forged a relationship
with a company that is recognised globally for its superior spatial technology
and expertise," said Michael Koo, director of Map Information Solutions.
Map Information Solutions' local client base spans various sectors including
the public sector, telecommunications, utilities, consumer and retail,
emergency services, fleet management and education. For more on Map Information
Solutions, call (03) 9057-9918.
From http://star-techcentral.com/ 10/16/2003
TOPˇü
Boosting IT Infrastructure With Enterprise Apps
Today's enterprises need the most cost-effective ways to improve the
performance and reliability of complex business and technical applications
to safeguard their competitive advantage. These applications demand greater
computing power and cache resources because they link together more users
and automate complex processes. Upgrading the enterprise's IT infrastructure
is critical to not only meet the challenge of handling ever-growing workloads,
but also supporting and facilitating new ways of doing business. However,
the sluggish economy has forced companies to tighten their IT budgets
and scrutinise return on investment (ROI) and total cost of ownership
(TCO) from any proposed changes or upgrades to the IT infrastructure.
The traditional approach of using proprietary, RISC-based systems as part
of the IT infrastructure is no longer a viable option, as enterprises
are finding them simply too complex, costly, and, in the long run, inflexible
to manage. Improvements in the Linux and Windows operating systems over
the years, coupled with next-generation, lower cost server equipment capable
of performing many compute-intensive tasks, have gradually become a sound
and viable alternative to legacy RISC technology. Just as mainframes and
minicomputers gave way to Unix systems with the new class of RISC processors
in the early 1990s, RISC-based systems are being displaced by Intel architecture
(IA)-based systems running Windows and Linux. For example, in 1994, 4%
of servers shipped ran Windows; in 2002 that figure increased to 60%.
Volume manufacturing boasts greater economies of scale, which translate
to an overall lowering of server costs as well as increased competition
in the performance of Intel processors. The lower price/higher performance
ratio and wide industry support for Intel platforms has helped expand
market opportunities for servers based on Intel architecture. According
to research firm IDC, the Intel processor-based server market segment
grew 24.4% by units and 25.7% by revenue year-over-year in the first quarter
of 2003. Meanwhile, RISC-based Unix server revenue declined by 2.4% year-on-year,
while unit shipments grew 9% in the first quarter of 2003. Many companies
are turning to low-cost, open and flexible systems that span the enterprise,
depending on their needs. These systems must be able to run different
applications - ranging from midrange data tier including business logic,
mid-sized databases and application servers, to large-scale data centre
applications like enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply chain management
(SCM) and business intelligence (BI) - regardless of the platform they
choose. For example, the data in the databases need to be sifted through,
analysed and accessed very quickly. Lightning-quick access is required
for the data and instructions that are used most often, especially for
real-time data mining and smooth online transaction processing. There
must be fewer bottlenecks when working with compute-intensive applications
and content the infrastructure needs to achieve high levels of uptime
for the most demanding database environments. This is true especially
with increasingly complex enterprise applications that need time to swap
large amounts of data between disk and memory. Insufficient processing
power to perform the computing task can cause a major bottleneck that
adversely affects server performance. Let's take business intelligence
(BI), for example. BI often involves mission critical applications and
technologies that gather, store, analyse and provide access to data to
help enterprise users make better and more informed business decisions.
Enterprises need a computing platform that offers not only the best performance/price
ratio but also platform ubiquity, scalability, exceptional fault tolerance,
wide availability of components, adherence to standards, interoperability
in mixed-mode environments, and easy access for qualified personnel trained
to use it. Servers based on the Itanium processor family offer all of
these advantages and optimise the performance of business intelligence
applications. They have large 64bit addressing capability that allows
them to store as much as 18 exabytes of data in physical memory. This
means speedy access for by-the-minute decisions. Built from the ground
up with superior parallel processing capabilities, the Itanium processor
can execute several instructions simultaneously and reduce wait time for
data access. Enterprises need a broad choice of systems and solutions
to serve their customers more flexibly and conveniently. For example,
systems based on Itanium processors and Xeon processors are supported
by numerous operating systems including Microsoft's new Windows Server
2003 as well as Linux from all major Linux distributors, including Caldera,
Red Hat, SuSE and TurboLinux and Hewlett-Packard's HP-UX. And, there are
thousands of enterprise applications and tools now available or in production
for these server processors. By consolidating different operating system
environments onto a single platform, an Itanium processor-based system
can eliminate the need to maintain multiple systems and resources running
different environments, thereby reducing additional hardware investments
and simplifying system management. This ultimately means considerable
cost savings for the business. Specific features in Microsoft's Windows
Server 2003 operating system are optimised for the Itanium processor family's
Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing (EPIC) architecture, which enables
efficient management of large datasets, supports a greater number of users,
and more instructions per cycle executed, all of which impact overall
performance. Additionally, large integrated caches and substantial platform
(memory) bandwidth provide the capacity and performance to scale applications,
while extensive error detection, correction, and logging capabilities,
including Machine Check Architecture and Error Correction Code, help to
reduce downtime, data loss and data corruption. Enterprises are also reaping
the benefits of Intel architecture running on Linux. According to IDC,
during the first quarter of 2003, the worldwide Linux server market segment
posted a 35% increase to US$583mil (RM2.2bil) from the year-ago quarter.
At this rate, the Linux market segment will fetch well over US$2bil (RM7.6bil)
in revenue for 2003. Today, more than 90% of Linux installations are on
Intel-based systems and Linux server volume is more than twice that of
all Unix server volumes combined. Under the open source model on which
the Linux operating system is based, anyone can write a driver for a particular
piece of hardware, adding to the list of hardware that Linux can support.
With the reliability and cost-effectiveness of an industry-standard platform,
analysts predict that Windows and Linux will continue proliferating rapidly
across the enterprise. The operating systems support hardware from multiple
OEMs, which in turn provides a broad environment for software development.
It also enhances the availability of enterprise software applications
at competitive prices. The combination gives enterprises an outstanding
price/performance ratio, opening new avenues for the evolution of enterprise
computing. The Australian Domain Name registry (.au) has been live on
Oracle9i RAC database on Red Hat Linux since July 2002. By using Oracle9i
RAC on Linux and Intel processor-based systems, AusRegistry has been able
to benefit from enterprise-class computing capabilities at a fraction
of the cost of proprietary RISC systems. In addition, with Oracle's database
clustering technology, AusRegistry can now remove and maintain any of
the hardware in the cluster without disrupting service, and can grow the
system incrementally as business needs dictate. The combination of Oracle9i
RAC on Linux enables the Domain Name registry system to process hundreds
of registrars' connections simultaneously, send hundreds of thousands
of requests, and process more than 250,000 transactions per day. Another
advantage of Linux is price. Using an example to illustrate the cost benefits
of Linux, Intel began considering migrating some of its own enterprise
systems to Linux in 2001. When determining server price/performance and
other cost factors such as tangible and administrative costs of the Intel
Architecture (IA) and RISC platforms, Intel found that the average list
price of an IA-based system at 2.4GHz was US$4,000 (RM15,200), and the
average list price of a RISC system at 750MHz was US$40,000 (RM152,000).
It was projected then that the total three-year maintenance cost of the
RISC system would be at US$4,000, compared to US$400 (RM1,520) for the
same period. The IA licence for the Linux operating system is free, while
the three-year cost of the RISC operating system license is US$1,600 (RM6,080)
per server.
From http://star-techcentral.com/ 10/23/2003
TOPˇü
Scanning Through 3D Medical images_4
AS FAR as software engineering is concerned, 3D medical imaging systems
for displaying MRI or CT scan data have become the thing to do, it seems.
Apart from the tremendous commercial possibilities, such systems are also
proving to be extremely useful to radiologists and surgeons who need to
take a peek into a patient without cutting him or her up into little pieces.
Barely a month after we ran a story on such a system (see In.Tech, Sept
9), we've stumbled across yet another group of individuals eager to display
their very own 3D medical imaging system, called Uppercut3D. Graphic Imaging
Solutions Sdn Bhd, the local marketing agent for Uppercut3D, recently
held a demonstration to promote the system to the public (mostly people
in the medical field). The press kit and posters littering the exhibition
hall showed some rather nice looking computer-rendered images_4 of someone's
spinal cord, flanked by two kidneys. Obviously, the system was capable
of producing very high-quality 3D graphics, something which its designers
were keen to point out. Before the presentation, I spoke to Dr Khoo Ee
Win, a senior registrar with the Radiology Department at the Queen Elizabeth
Hospital, South Australia. He had a big badge with the words "Uppercut3D"
in bright colours, which meant that he probably had something to do with
the event. After a bit of small talk on the current state of medical imaging
and various other things, I asked Dr Khoo if Graphic Imaging Solutions
was going to demonstrate the software. "Sure, I'll be giving you a demonstration
of the software ... from my laptop," he said. "You mean you're going to
show me some videoclips and screenshots of Uppercut3D from your laptop,
right?" I said, attempting to correct him. "No, I'll be running the actual
program from my laptop," he asserted, with a deadpan look. This was a
surprise. Normally, if you want to get your hands on a 3D medical imaging
system you'd have to either purchase some exotic, specialised computer
hardware or establish links with certain government-funded organisations
so that they can buy the system for you, in the likely event that you
can't afford it. And that's before you even buy the equally pricey imaging
software to run on the system. Now, here I was, standing in front of a
very humble looking laptop, watching as Dr Khoo flipped, cropped, sliced
and rotated a very highly detailed 3D representation of somebody's skull
in real-time, on his laptop's monitor. "This person was involved in a
motor accident and smashed his face into a steering wheel. You can clearly
see the extent of the fracture and make accurate measurements here and
here," said Dr Khoo, pointing at two gaps on the person's badly broken
jaw. Not only was the image frighteningly realistic, it looked really
painful too. "So, who wrote this software, then?" I asked. "I did ..."
he replied, with a slight grin. It turns out that whenever night falls,
the mild mannered radiologist reveals his true identity; he's actually
a computer programmer. In fact, he's the founder of Uppercut.com Pty Ltd
in Australia, the company which handles the R&D; for Uppercut3D. Dr Khoo
first saw the need for a 3D imaging tool during his undergraduate training,
when he saw the difficulty doctors had in manipulating images_4 obtained
from CT and MRI scans. "I took on the challenge of creating a 3D visualisation
system, something which the big companies and vendors did not offer at
the time. As an undergraduate medical student, I formed a team of programmers
with friends to develop 3D volume rendering software. Within a couple
of weeks everyone dropped out. Undaunted, I persevered on my own, but
slowed down the development to complete my medical studies," explained
Dr Khoo. "On completion of my medical course, I invited three people to
form a team to speed up the programming. Ensuring the product was bug
free was a major challenge, as was getting compatible hardware configuration.
"I spent almost all my free time after work and on weekends on the project,
very often till the wee hours of the morning. I sacrificed a lot of my
social life to singularly focus on the success of this program," said
Dr Khoo. Like all 3D medical imaging systems, Uppercut3D relies on volume
rendering with voxels (individual coloured pixels), rather than surface
rendering with polygons. Voxels require far more processing power to render
than polygons. A good analogy to explain this is trying to build a house
out of sawdust (voxels) rather than with wooden planks (polygons). The
most impressive technical aspect of Uppercut3D is that, even in the absence
of specific volume rendering hardware, it is able to render complex 3D
volumes rather quickly. Dr Khoo used a progressive rendering technique
which displays low-resolution versions of the 3D model while you're manipulating
it on screen (rotation, zoom, cropping, etc), only rendering the final
full-detailed version within a couple of seconds after you've completed
your manipulations. Dr Khoo pointed out that while other competing 3D
medical images_4 are hardware-based, the rendering engine in Uppercut3D
is 100% software based, which also drastically reduces development and
production costs. It will run on most Pentium 4-equipped PCs. "Much of
the rendering engine uses proprietary algorithms. However, the basic strategy
for fast rendering is through optimisation at the lowest level of programming.
The general principles of volume rendering have been well known for several
decades now," explained Dr Khoo. Although it currently runs only on Windows,
the software can be ported to other platforms such as Linux and Macintosh,
should the need arise. Dr Khoo added that the code can be optimised to
take advantage of the new 64-bit processors for Windows-based PCs. Technological
accomplishments aside, one thing that Dr Khoo highlighted repeatedly is
that Uppercut3D was designed by doctors, for doctors and is therefore
very relevant since it is tailored towards the workflow of a radiologist.
"The current workflow of a radiologist is plagued by many inefficiencies,"
he said. "When a patient is scanned, the radiographer is responsible for
developing the hard copy films for the radiologist to view. He or she
is relying on experience to know what the best standard views are for
the radiologist to report on. If the optimal angle and contrast was not
achieved, the radiologist would have to request more prints from the radiographer.
This is very time consuming. "In addition, today's CT scanners can routinely
generate hundreds of slices of data (typically 500 slices) and more. The
current method of printing the hard copy films of the enormous amount
of data is not time effective or cost effective. The workaround at the
moment is to not print all the thin slices but to print the thick slices.
However, much of the extra information is not looked at. This is dangerous
since small lesions and details may be missed," said Dr Khoo. He then
explained how his software fits into the picture: "Uppercut3D fits perfectly
into the workflow because the radiologist can now generate the viewing
angles all by himself in real-time, allowing the radiographer to work
more efficiently. Alternate contrast and brightness settings can be quickly
applied to the images_4 in real-time as well. More importantly, the radiologist
has at his/her fingertips, all the thin slices instead of having to report
from the thick slices only. "In addition, 3D volume rendered views of
the pathology such as a complex fracture can be generated in real-time
as well by the radiologist. These can then be printed and sent to the
referring clinician. The endpoint of the workflow is the successful communication
of the findings and the diagnosis to the referring clinician," explained
Dr Khoo. According to him, another advantage of having photo-realistic
3D rendered representations is that it helps both doctors and patients
to understand the problems at hand. After all, it's much simpler to convince
somebody if he's okay or not by showing him what his innards look like.
"This should ultimately improve doctor-patient relationships enormously;
they're less likely to argue if they can see the problem," quipped Dr
Khoo. Dr Khoo believes that the quality of healthcare for a patient should
not be determined by cost. Since Uppercut3D runs on readily available
and affordable PC hardware, it can be sold to hospitals at a much lower
price than most of its competitors. Uppercut3D is already available in
the market, having undergone extensive and rigorous clinical testings
for two years. Dr Khoo claimed that in all trials, no problems had been
identified. Indeed, it's already being used in actual clinical work. "Two
medical institutions are currently using Uppercut3D on a daily basis.
They are the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (a large public hospital) and Jones
and Partners (a large private national radiology service provider), both
in Adelaide, Australia," he revealed. Although he currently lives in Australia,
Dr Khoo was born in Malaysia and spent his childhood here. His family
and relatives set up Graphic Imaging Solutions with the sole purpose of
marketing Uppercut3D in Asia. They plan to sell Uppercut3D for less than
RM100,000, as a complete solution offering support, upgrade patches, hardware,
warranty and training. They have already spoken to a few hospitals in
Malaysia and will be setting up demo units so that the hospitals can evaluate
their system. This may seem pricey but, according to Dr Khoo, it is more
affordable than any other competing system in the market which typically
costs between RM160,000 and RM480,000. Dr Khoo has also identified medical
schools as another possible market. Graphic Imaging Solutions is considering
releasing a special edition at a reduced cost, for lecturers and students.
"The ability to view scans from a live patient's anatomy is very important
in the study of diseases. Hopefully, there will be a transition where
students can study anatomy from 3D images_4. Dissections are somewhat artificial
in that they do not depict live tissue," explained Dr Khoo. Whether or
not it achieves the commercial success that its designers and distributors
are hoping for, Uppercut3D is a rather impressive piece of software. When
asked if there are any improvements planned for Uppercut3D, Dr Khoo said:
"Well, we could include an animated 3D fly-by through a patient's innards
...." For more information regarding Uppercut3D, contact Graphic Imaging
Solutions Sdn Bhd at (04) 898-2650.
From http://star-techcentral.com/ 10/23/2003
TOPˇü
SINGAPORE: Online University Group Spends S$50m
to Set Up Asian HQ in Singapore
A group of 16 universities offering postgraduate online courses has pumped
in S$50 million to set up its Asian headquarters in Singapore. And although
the take-up rate for its MBA has been slow, Universities 21 Global is
stepping up marketing in the region. The newly-launched MBA programme
started last Friday with 27 students, including 11 Singaporeans. They
expect to see 500 students sign up in the first year, with the flexibility
of letting new students come onboard every week. But it hopes things will
take off when its marketing reaches Hong Kong, China and Korea later this
year. One reason for choosing Singapore as regional HQ is because it is
close to its two biggest markets - India and China. Tharman Shanmugaratnam,
Acting Education Minister, said: "It is estimated that the e-learning
market in the Asia Pacific will reach US$400 million by 2005. That's two
years from now." Depending on living standards, fees varies across countries
so an Indian pays US$11,000, while a Singaporean US$13,000.A check with
NUS, one of the partner universities, shows its own full-time MBA costs
around $20,000, while a part-time one costs $25,000.The institution says
being online, it is not limited by size like traditional universities.
Dr Mukesh Aghi, CEO, Universities 21 Global, said: "There are roughly
35 million students who are unable to get that education and that number
will grow to 100 million in 10 to 15 years." The institution says it will
not mimic a traditional brick and mortar university and so there would
not be any video-conferencing. But it says students can still communicate
with each other and with their lecturers through chat rooms as well as
discussion boards or email. While doing assignments, students can access
articles, journals and periodicals in the online library. But they will
not be able to gain access to the libraries of participating universities.
However that will be possible for students taking courses under another
group of online universities, the UKeU. Under a tie-up with Singapore's
MDIS, students taking courses under UKeU also get a direct degree from
the university they took the course from. (By Ca-Mie De Souza)
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 08/05/2003
TOPˇü
Singapore Car Owners Can Now Renew Road Tax
Online
Car owners can now renew their road tax from the comfort of their homes
or offices via Road Tax Online (ROTAX). However, this does not remove
the need to first obtain a valid motor insurance coverage and vehicle
inspection certificate. Owners must also have a valid Internet banking
account with DBS, UOB or Citibank to make payment. Besides the convenience,
10 lucky motorists who use the LTA's eNETs services at www.onemotoring.com.sg
from now to January 2004, also stand to win attractive prizes. A grand
draw will be held in February next year, and the winner will walk home
with a plasma television. Motor traders and individuals can also benefit
from LTA's new e-service. Those requesting for vehicle type approval and
modifications can now also submit their applications online through the
Vehicle Inspection & Type Approval System (VITAS). They will then only
need to make a trip to the vehicle inspection centres. The status of their
applications can also be tracked online. With ROTAX and VITAS, LTA now
offers a total of 11 e-services on their portal. (By Johnson Choo)
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 08/06/2003
TOPˇü
IE Singapore's Hub Development Schemes Draw
18 More Global Firms
Another 18 international trading and shipping firms have joined the ranks
of more than 150 other such companies making Singapore their business
hub. The 18 were given awards under International Enterprise Singapore's
Global Trader Programme and Approved International Shipping Enterprise
schemes. The awards confer tax concessions to the international traders
and shippers who set up their regional or global operations here. The
new recipients include international rubber traders like Bridgestone,
equipment suppliers like Caterpillar, and top shipping companies from
countries like Australia and Japan. Last year, companies under IE Singapore
hub development programmes contributed more than S$4 billion in local
spending and employed over 6,000 staff. Some of the companies ChannelNewsAsia
spoke to say Singapore's strong infrastructure makes it an attractive
choice for a business hub. But they add that the high cost structure here
is a cause for concern. "Shipping is a low margin business and we're always
concerned about cost," said John Lines, managing director of ANL Container
Line. "We are aware that the government is focusing on this area. I think
we have the confidence they'll find ways around minimizing any cost blow-out.
At the moment, it is at an acceptable level, but we have to keep an eye
on it." (By Frederick Lim)
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 08/15/2003
TOPˇü
IDA Sets Up E-Supply Chain System to Cut Business
Costs
Singapore's Infocomm Development Authority is setting up an e-supply
chain management system to help cut business costs. For a start, it will
test the S$20 million, two-year project on supermarkets and their suppliers.
Currently, suppliers taking orders from the various supermarkets in Singapore
have one big headache. They have to plough through many different forms
and codes to process these orders. But under IDA's new supply chain system,
these will now be standardised. The three major supermarket chains here
- NTUC FairPrice, Cold Storage and Shop & Save - are developing their
own software to tap into IDA's infrastructure. Why pick supermarkets to
test out the system? Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications
and The Arts, said: "One of the important loss areas for supermarkets,
especially if they were to carry perishable goods, is the spoilage factor.
With a good e-supply management chain ecosystem, they're closely integrated
with suppliers...... supermarkets save on losses, benefit in pricing to
consumers........."The project is expected to generate savings equal to
about 2 percent of revenue for the supermarkets. Some 100 suppliers will
take part in the project. IDA will subsidise up to 50 percent of the training
cost. Besides the e-supply system, the IDA also plans to set up more projects
to enhance online business information exchange between suppliers and
the SMEs, many of which are still not sure if it's safe to do business
online or how to communicate with suppliers online. But some firms like
Stamfles Food Management have taken their own initiative to put their
business online. Alson Teo, CEO of Stamfles Food Management, said: "We're
going to launch in perhaps 2 weeks' time our outdoor catering division.
We're going to have an extensive Web-based interactive online ordering
catering. Customers can reach us seven days, 24 hours, go to the Web and
change the menu if they want." According to the latest IDA survey, 83
percent of Singapore businesses already use infocomm technology, and the
e-supply project should boost the percentage even higher. (By Katherine
Tay)
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 08/21/2003
TOPˇü
Starhub to Charge "Surf for Free" Internet
Service
From September 1, StarHub will start charging customers using its Surf-for-free
Internet service. A two-cent per minute access charge will be levied on
its subscription-free customers. The new charges will be reflected in
the subscribers' fixed-line operator bill. StarHub says a big portion
of its 300,000 free-Internet customers have become more Internet-savvy,
and have migrated to either paid dial-up or broadband service. As a result,
free-service customers have shrunk significantly, and the company needs
to impose a minimum charge, to keep the service economically viable. Rival
SingNet made a similar move in February. So now, both are on par, offering
Internet browsing for $1.20 per hour. (By Stephanie Sim)
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 08/21/2003
TOPˇü
Collaboration to Build an e-Supply Chain Ecosystem
for the FMCG Industry
Major Supermarket chains will replace manual stock-ordering process with
new e-procurement system, which will lead to cost savings. Thursday, 21
August 2003. The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), together
with the Singapore Article Number Council (SANC) and SPRING Singapore,
have come together for a new $20 million project to build an e-Supply
Chain Management Ecosystem for the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry.
The ecosystem is based on EAN International's e-Business Messaging Standards,
and a National Electronic Product Catalogue will also be developed and
linked internationally. The two-year project will be tested on supermarkets
and their suppliers in Singapore. Currently, suppliers have to spend significant
amount of time going through many different forms and codes to process
orders. Under this new system, these will be standardised and the suppliers
will eventually be linked up. It will eliminate inefficiencies along the
supply chain and increase productivity as well as increase sales and profit.
In the long run, this e-SCM Ecosystem will enhance Singapore's position
as an e-business hub for the wholesale and retail industry. The three
major supermarket chains, namely Cold Storage (operates by Dairy Farm),
NTUC FairPrice and Shop & Save, are currently developing their own software
to tap into the infrastructure. The project is expected to generate savings
equal to about 2 percent of revenue for them. Minister for Information,
Communications and The Arts, Dr Lee Boon Yang, who announced this at the
7th Internet Commerce, hoped that this project will become a showcase
to demonstrate the benefit of information technology on business profits.
"Success is the greatest motivator. We hope that when other companies
see that the supermarkets can do it, they will want to use IT to improve
as well," he said. IDA, SPRING Singapore and ECR Singapore will be presenting
this project at the 6th Annual ECR Asia conference in Seoul, Korea in
October this year. Singapore will be the first country in the region to
implement e-business messaging standards involving more than 1,000 suppliers
in the FMCG industry that use global e-business XML standards developed
by EAN International.
From http://www.ida.gov.sg/ 09/05/2003
TOPˇü
Singapore Urges ASEAN to Speed Up Growth of
Infocomms, IT
Singapore is urging ASEAN countries to speed up efforts to grow the regional
grouping's infocomms and technology sector to take advantage of the global
recovery. This call came from Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, who spoke
at the start of the ASEAN telecoms and IT ministers meeting in Singapore.
The efforts, which aim to develop a so-called "e-ASEAN," include freeing
up trade in IT goods and services to help lower business costs and promote
investment within the group. The meeting kicked off on a dramatic note,
drumming home the point that ASEAN should work harder to create a unified
voice in the global marketplace to compete against bigger markets like
China. Naturally, one way is to become more connected through infocomms
and technology. The sector has on average expanded by double digits annually
in the last decade, in member countries like Singapore, Vietnam and the
Philippines. "We must press ahead with e-ASEAN. In fact, I would argue
for efforts to be accelerated. Because of the changing global environment
and rapid advancements in ICT technology, e-ASEAN is even more relevant
today," Mr Goh said. So he urged the ministers to continue making sure
that government regulations are transparent and predictable. This will
help telecom companies like SingTel operate in the region. Mr Goh also
stressed the importance of protecting Southeast Asia's networks against
attacks. And since ASEAN members are at different stages of development,
the ministers are also looking at ways to improve IT access and education.
"Our focus must be to devise a strategy, to not just bridge the digital
divide, but to also create and tap the benefits of digital opportunities,"
said Lee Boon Yang, Singapore's minister for Communications, Information
and the Arts. Over the next two days, the ministers will be charting next
year's direction for ASEAN's information, communications and technology
industries, to see how they can jointly leverage on these industries to
benefit the ASEAN community. (by Dawn Teo)
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com 09/18/2003
TOPˇü
Track Net Attacks? Have Cyberguards at 24/7
Centre
A 24/7 IT security operation centre may be the answer to the growing
scourge of Net threats. This centre would provide cyberspace with more
robust 'guard posts', such as those in the real world which protect against
illegal immigrants, for example. Putting this idea forward on Wednesday,
Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs Ho Peng Kee urged IT
security practitioners to explore it further. Such a centre can coordinate
real-time monitoring round the clock against cyberattacks on systems which
register with them, he said. 'With such a cybersecurity monitoring centre
in place, we can at least have an idea of who the hackers are and how
they are trying to hack into the IT networks and systems it is monitoring,'
said Associate Professor Ho. He was speaking at Governmentware, an annual
security seminar organised by the Internal Security Department (ISD) of
the Home Affairs Ministry and the Institute of Public Administration and
Management of the Civil Service College. Another benefit of having a 24-hour
'guard post' - it will be better equipped to detect attacks early, when
intervention is most timely, said Assoc Prof Ho. When contacted for more
details yesterday, a Home Affairs Ministry spokesman told The Straits
Times that although organisations have systems such as intrusion and detection
technologies in place now, it may be difficult for them to separate real
threats from the many false alerts. A dedicated centre with trained staff
can develop a better system of alerts, she added. The spokesman said the
next step would be for IT security practitioners to examine areas to look
into, operational costs and the staffing and technical training needed
for the centre. 'These are issues which need to be identified and addressed
systematically, and some of them have been the subjects of ongoing discussion
among agencies concerned with IT security,' she added.
From http://it.asia1.com.sg/ 10/24/2003
TOPˇü |
|
| |
|
|
| |
BANGLADESH: NIIT Planetworkz Launched
NIIT, the IT Education pioneer, has drawn up an ambitious plan to create
Planetworkers for the service industry in Dhaka after successful trials
in India, says a Press release. Certain basic skills are pre-requisite
for success in any career-for instance a good grounding in IT skills or
the ability to communicate effectively in English. NIIT Planetworkz has
been launched to address the gap in the English communication skills required
by the service industry in Dhaka. Speaking on the occasion, NIIT General
Manager, Ms Tulika Sinha said, "NIIT-Planetworkz's Global English, Education
offer is a result of long and intensive interaction with key service industry
leaders. We hope to develop a large pool of industry accepted skilled
professionals, who will add to the long-term global competitiveness of
the Bangladesh service industry". NIIT will be offering this specialized
training in the Executive Training Center in Dhaka run by NRG, a city-based
strategic consulting firm. 'Planetworkz' series of offerings start with
a 30-day Certificate in Customer Service programme to a six-month programme
that prepares young enthusiastic career seekers in generic Global English
Communication. Speaking on behalf of NRG, Nazim Farhan Choudhury, CEO,
said "We are delighted to launch NIIT-Planetworkz's education programme
as appropriate training inputs for the professional in service industry
is the key to offer quality customer experience". (The BD Observer)
From http://www.bangladesh-web.com/ 08/16/2003
TOPˇü
Trailer of 3D Animation Screened at DRU
Shom Computers, a local multi media development company, has released
the trailer of a locally made 3D animation film 'Tratuler Jagat'. Muhammad
Zafar Iqbal, head of computer science at the Shahjalal University of Science
and Technology, popular science-fiction writer and author of 'Tratuler
Jagat', released the trailer at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium.
Afroza Haq Rina, managing director of Shom Computers, presided over the
function. Rina said the movie would add a new dimension to the Bangladesh's
entertainment arena as it is a completely new concept. Forty per cent
of the work is complete and the 50-minute film should be released on November,
she said. Rajib Ahmed, a director of the company, said it was indeed a
bold step as the company had to develop its own software to make the animation
movie. The animation film would make its premiere on different television
channel of the country, he said.
From http://www.bangladesh-web.com/ 09/06/2003
TOPˇü
BANGLADESH: Big Fire at N'ganj Telephone Exchange
- 7800 Phones Out of Order
About 7000 telephone connections have gone out of order when a big fire
destroyed Narayanganj Telephone Exchange early this morning. All phone
lines of 971 group have been totally damaged following the incident. Telecommunications
Minister Barrister Aminul Haque along with high officials of T&T; Board
visited the spot and formed a three-member body headed by board member
Niazur Rahman to probe the incident. The body was ordered to submit the
report within three days. The cause behind the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Different source said that it should be properly investigated whether
any sabotage may be cause behind the fire. T&T; Chairman SATM Badrul Haque
told the local journalists that the fire that occurred at Chalk Bazar
Exchange six months before was an act of sabotage but today's fire was
a 'normal' fire incident. However, they are investigating the matter.
According to T&T; Board sources, the fire originated from a Main Distribution
Frame (MDF) box between 5 and 5.30 am. Six thousand lines at 971 group
digital exchange totally burnt to ashes. The MDF room was locked during
the fire. The automatic alarm was sounded during the fire but nobody heard
it as heavy rains were falling at that time. Kamaluddin, operator of the
exchange got smell of the smoke. He raised hue and cry and people rushed
to control the fire. Fire service units from Mondal Para and Hajiganj
rushed to the spot immediately. They broke open the locks and collapsible
gate and entered the burning room and extinguished the fire. T&T; chairman
told journalists that a total of 7000 telephone lines were totally damaged
following the fire. It will take a minimum seven days to repair the phone
service again, he said. Meanwhile, the police are looking into the conflicts
between Narayanganj Telecom Divisional Engineer (DE) and a section of
CBA leaders. It is alleged that DE was giving telephone lines to his favourite
persons. But hundreds of applicants were not getting lines since a long
time. A tense situation has been prevailing in Narayanganj Telecom office
since a long time. (by Narayanganj)
From http://www.bangladesh-web.com/ 09/22/2003
TOPˇü
Daffodil Computers Wears a New Corporate Look
A discussion meeting was held at a local hotel in Dhaka on 2nd October
at 7:00 PM with the participation of some BCS members, says a press release.
Md. Sabur Khan, Managing Director of Daffodil Computers Ltd. and Chairman
of Daffodil Group informed that Daffodil has now reached a place wherein
one can find any kind of IT related solutions. Daffodil is representing
well renowned IT Companies of the world in bond of corporate reseller,
distributor, importer and trader and assembler. Solutions namely LAN,
WAN, Backbone Network, Remote Access Server (RAS), Internal External Main
Server, Customised Software Development, Web Design and Development, IT
Service Provider, System Integration, Multimedia Authoring, Developing
ERP Solutions for enterprises are being offered by this organisation.
Countrywide network channel for sales, support and service to customers
are also available under the same roof. Daffodil is the country's leading
computer trading and assembling, software development and marketing company
having other multi-ventures in the discipline of information technology
offering total IT solutions. Daffodil is the first IT Company of its kind
to come into listing with the stock exchange. ICB Capital Management Limited,
Equity Partners Limited, Green Delta Insurance Company Limited, Karnaphuli
Insurance Company Limited, Vanik Bangladesh Limited, Bay Leasing and Investment
Ltd, Raspit Securities and Management Ltd, Banco Trans World (BD) Ltd.
are the underwriters to the IPO. The shares will be traded in both the
Dhaka and Chittagong Stock Exchange. Prospectus and IPO forms are available
with the above underwriters, DSE, CSE and Daffodil Computers Ltd. H. M.
Mahfujul Arif, Treasurer of BCS delivered the welcome speech and Mr. Aftab
Ul Islam Ex-President of BCS and President of American Chamber of Commerce
in Bangladesh thanked the Chairman of Daffodil Group for getting Daffodil
Computers Ltd. into a Public Limited Company. M N Islam Managing Director
of Flora Ltd. and other IT personnel were present on the occasion.
From http://www.bangladesh-web.com/ 10/10/2003
TOPˇü
INDIA: ITES Set to Grow Rapidly in State
IT-ENABLED services (ITES) industry is set to grow rapidly in Andhra
Pradesh during the next four to five years and, apart from Hyderabad,
the other centres such as Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati and Warangal
should derive benefit out of it, according to Dr J.C Mohanty, the Principal
Secretary, Information Technology and Communications Department. He was
speaking at a conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry
and Visakhapatnam Information Technology Association (VITA) here. Dr Mohanty
said that during 2002-2003 ITES industry's turnover amounted to Rs 1,411
crore in the State, which stood first in the country, followed by Karnataka
(Rs 988 crore) and Tamil Nadu (Rs 523 crore). During the current year,
the target was set at Rs 2,500 crore and "the industry is confident of
achieving it". He said that the setting up of a call centre by HSBC in
Visakhapatnam was a big step forward. "We have succeeded in attracting
a big company to Vizag. The call centre would be operational by the end
of the year. Other companies will follow. Wipro has evinced interest in
setting up shop here," he added. Dr Mohanty said that according to projections
the industry would achieve a size of $24 billion by 2008, employing 2
million people, in the country. "It is our ambition to capture 50 per
cent of it and to achieve it IT infrastructure would have to be developed
at Vizag, Vijayawada and other places in the State. Hyderabad alone is
not sufficient," he said. He said a special institute had been set up
in Hyderabad for ITES sector under the AP Council of Higher Education
and more such schools would be set up in other parts. Mr M. Gopalakrishna,
Chairman of the AP State Financial Corporation, said the financial institutions
were still fighting shy of financing the IT sector in the State, as there
was not much awareness about the sector. "The sector is still in the nascent
phase and there is a long way to go," he said. Mr D. Ramesh, Vice-Chairman
of CII, Andhra Pradesh, and Mr G.V. Prasanna, President of VITA, sought
more encouragement to the sector from the Government. (by Visakhapatnam)
From http://www.blonnet.com/ 08/07/2003
TOPˇü
Tata Tele Launches Limited Mobility Service in
Mumbai
TATA Indicom's CDMA limited mobility service today joined the band of
mobile service operators in Mumbai, the second largest mobile services
market after Delhi, with its launch in the city by the Maharashtra Chief
Minister, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde. It is the seventh entrant into the mobile
services in the city, and the third in the CDMA-limited mobility category
(after MTNL and Reliance Infocomm) and in functionality would compete
with Reliance IndiaMobile, being based on the 3GCDMA 2000 1x technology.
The company has also launched its Fixed Mobile Telephone (FWT), whose
tariff and rental would be identical to that of the company's wire line
service. "We do not want to say we are the biggest or the cheapest, but
we are going to be the best," said Dr J.J. Irani, Chairman, Tata Teleservices.The
service has already been launched in all five circles of TTSL, and in
eight other cities in Maharashtra itself, "Mumbai being the most important
market, left for the last," said officials. The Mumbai service is from
Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Ltd, subsidiary of Tata Teleservices Ltd
(TTSL), whose COO, Mr Y.V.L. Pandit, made a detailed launch presentation
showing the Tata Indicom service as being cheaper in the long run as compared
to that of its CDMA as well as GSM competitors in the city. Tata Indicom
mobile's entry cost is Rs 999; with the tariff plans ranging from a Basic
Rs 295 plan up to the Privilege Rs 999 plan; with calling costs ranging
from 70 paise to 45 paise per minute. The pulse rate is 15 seconds for
all calls, except for calls made to GSM operators where it is 60 seconds.
SMS is currently offered for free, but can be sent only to other CDMA
operators, the interconnect agreements for SMS with GSM operators currently
still being worked out. Multiple registrations will be offered to customers,
who would like to move across Short Distance Calling Areas (SDCAs) since
roaming is not allowed under the regulations to limited mobility subscribers.
"We would have a voice mail directing callers to dial the customer's other
numbers, since we currently cannot offer call-forwarding facilities,"
said Mr S. Ramakrishnan, Managing Director, Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra)
Ltd.
From http://www.blonnet.com/ 08/07/2003
TOPˇü
Renaissance to Fine-Tune Techie Skills
RENAISSANCE Infotech, a Hyderabad-based software start-up, has announced
that it has carved out Idea Labs, which has been positioned as an incubation
initiative to bridge the gap between academic turnouts and industry expectations.
The Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Infotech, Mr Pankaj Divan,
in a statement said, "we have strategically positioned Idea Labs between
a training school and a software services company to enable engineering
graduates and technology professionals to hone up their skills and ramp
up the value chain." Mr Diwan said Idea Labs was like `Sutradhaar' or
a link between IT industry, academicians and techies and would work towards
bridging the gap between academic output, which does not draw from much
practical experience, and the industry requirements. The incubation programme
is carried out under the guidance of industry mentors with case studies.
Idea Labs has initiated the programme with an industry interaction at
Cyber Towers. The recent meeting here witnessed over 300 registrations
where a host of industry players from Genesis Insoft, Cap Gemini, HP India
and Leapstone System interacted with techies.
From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ 09/10/2003
TOPˇü
Tulip to Wire Malappuram with Wireless Tech
Thiruvananthapuram -- TWO months after the UN launched a major initiative
aimed at harnessing wireless Internet technologies to bridge the `digital
divide' in developing countries, Malappuram in Kerala is set to become
the world's first revenue district to get fully wired with the latest
technology. Sources in the Kerala State IT Mission, the official implementing
agency, informed Business Line that New Delhi-based Tulip IT Services
has been selected as the service provider for Malappuram after they came
up with a cost-effective and terrain-friendly last-mile solutions for
the Akshaya Internet community centres housed there. Tulip will bring
to this once sleepy district, with a jurisdictional area of 3550 sq km,
cutting-edge wireless technologies from principals WiLAN (Calgary, Canada),
Airspan (UK) and YDI (US). Malappuram will have a well-considered hybrid
connectivity infrastructure, through a mix of wireless technologies like
WipLL, Vine and 802.11.b WiFi with multiple redundancies. The backbone
redundancy will be provided through fibre. The 550 Akshaya e-centres will
be connected in a LAN environment, which, in turn, will be connected to
a network operating centre (NOC). The NOC will have direct connectivity
with the Internet backbone. The NOC infrastructure would ensure browsing
at no cost to users in the network. This would mean that the entire district
would be converted into "a small wired office" seamlessly inter-connected
with linkages to three world-class purveyors of the technology. One of
the key impacts that Akshaya project brings to the State is of the last
mile Internet connectivity. World over, delivery of Internet connectivity
services in the rural and remote areas has been the biggest challenge
in bringing benefits of IT to masses. Each Akshaya centre would cater
to the needs of 1,000-1,500 households, enabling each to benefit from
the advantages of Internet connectivity. The Malappuram experiment is
only a pilot, to be replicated in phases over the entire State. As the
locations of these centres are strategically planned and spatially distributed,
they will form a powerful network to guide and support the e-governance
initiatives, community development interventions, e-commerce and information
dissemination. The technology solution for Malappuram was arrived at after
extensive studies and interactions, including demonstration of various
technologies in the district. The connectivity infrastructure established
through the Akshaya project, i.e., network and backbone, network centre,
software, Internet access and management, can also be used to connect,
apart from Akshaya centres, all panchayat offices, village offices and
departmental offices spread across the district. According to sources,
the waiting will soon be over. Services to be delivered in Malappuram
will be limited only by the providers' creativity and entrepreneurship,
they added. (by Vinson Kurian)
From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ 09/18/2003
TOPˇü
Corio Inc Sets Up R&D; Outfit in Bangalore
Enterprise application service provider (ASP), Corio Inc, has set up
a development subsidiary in Bangalore, the only outfit outside the US.
Corio India Infotech Services Pvt Ltd would carry out the research and
development operations and provide customer support services for the parent's
clientele from Bangalore. The company had invested between $15-$20 million
over the last four months in setting up the Indian operations, said Mr
Sridhar Sarathy, Country Manager, Corio India, adding that the ramp-up
plans would decide future investments. "We expect to hire about 150 engineers
in a year's time," Mr Sarathy said. Corio has hired about 40 engineers
for its India operations, of which 20 are deployed to carry out R&D; operations
and the rest to provide customer support services. Currently, the R&D;
team in Bangalore is focussing on developing upgrades for two of the five
of Corio's product line iService. The upgrades for Corio's asset management
system and the centralised identity management system were being developed
in Bangalore, Mr Sarathy said, adding that all quality testing of the
company's products were being done in India. Corio India also handles
the Level II and Level III support for its customers such as code changes
and enhancement among others. As Corio currently had a customer base only
in the US, the first point of contact for support services was being kept
in the US, Mr Sarathy said. Indian operations would provide round the
clock support services seven days a week, he added. The company is also
planning to handle telemarketing activities for the parent from Bangalore.
"We have already commissioned a Bangalore-based telemarketing firm to
carry out lead generation exercise on a pilot basis. If it is proved successful,
we may take up the exercise on a full time basis," he said. Corio, which
offers packaged software of major vendors such as SAP, Peoplesoft, Oracle,
Siebel and Ariba to US clients on an ASP platform, is also examining the
possibilities of entering the Indian market. "While we have the desire
to establish the Indian operations, we are yet to decide on the strategy
on how to go about it," Mr Sarathy said. (by Vishwanath Kulkarni)
From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ 10/03/2003
TOPˇü
India's First Mobile Bank Starts Rolling in
Madhya Pradesh
Villagers in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh have been saved a long
walk to the bank with the launch of India's first mobile bank. The Gram
Luxmi Vahini, named after Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, started rolling
in the district on Monday after being inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister
Subhash Yadav. The bank, an extension of the Mahila Nagrik Bank, a co-operative
bank run successfully in various parts of the state by rural women, will
travel across the 1,170 villages to visit the homes of the nearly one
million villagers in the district. The Gram Luxmi Vahini, a van turned
into a bank, cost Rs 1 crore to set up and can seat 6-7 employees. Sarla
Sahu, chairperson of the Mahila Nagrik Bank, said the mobile bank would
not only revolutionise banking in the rural sector and strengthen the
financial condition of the villagers but also eradicate social evils.
"The villagers will now be able to save money without much trouble. When
the bank reaches their doorstep, they can deposit cash, even if it is
a small sum," said the chairperson. The number of banks in villagers,
she said, was limited and many villagers had to travel long distances
to reach them. "The distance often acts a hurdle between people and banks,"
said Sarla Singh. She believes the bank will prove a boon for women with
alcoholic husbands. "Cases of men beating their wives to get money for
liquor is not uncommon in villages," she said. "Now the women will be
able to keep their money safe in the mobile bank." (by Rohit Ghosh)
From http://www.hindustantimes.com/ 10/07/2003
TOPˇü
BSNL to Invest Rs 170 Cr to Double Subscriber
Base in Karnataka
BHARAT Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) plans to invest over Rs 170 crore to
double its subscriber base in Karnataka to around 6.5 lakh by March next.
BSNL officials told a news conference today that within 12 months of the
launch of the mobile services in Karnataka, it has been able to mop up
a subscriber base of around 3 lakh. BSNL, which has already invested around
Rs 170 crore in the State, plans to invest an equal amount to increase
the subscriber base. Revenues from mobile services, since it started operations
in October 2002, were around Rs 180 crore. But the increase in mobile
subscriber base has hit the landline subscriber base of BSNL. The Principal
General Manager for Bangalore Telecom District, Mr B.R. Baliga said the
net addition during the first six months of the current fiscal was around
500 to around 9.74 lakh subscribers in Bangalore. Mr Baliga said despite
the increase in mobile subscriber base, BSNL has been able to hold on
to its landline subscriber base. BSNL expects around 15 per cent increase
in revenue for the current fiscal. During 2002-03, BSNL posted revenues
of around Rs 2,200 crore of which over 50 per cent was contributed by
the Bangalore circle. In another development, BSNL has offered a festival
discount for customers opting for leased line Internet access. The scheme
is open till October 15. Customers applying for 2Mbps leased line ports
will be given additional benefits such as 2 Sancharnet PSTN dial up Internet
connections of 1000 hours each or 1 ISDN dial up 128K-backup package of
500 hours. BSNL has also introduced booking of complaints by dialing 198
for customers in Bangalore rural district. This facility is in addition
to the existing service for booking complaints. Offer for students: BSNL
has announced a low mobile rental plan for students in Karnataka. Under
the `student power scheme', students will be offered a monthly rental
of Rs 99 with a pulse rate of 15 seconds while each SMS will be charged
60 paise. The new scheme offers all value-added services as per the standard
plan of CellOne mobile scheme. The subscribers need not pay any security
deposit if they don't want to avail of STD facility.
From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ 10/08/2003
TOPˇü
New Intellicon Tool
CHENNAI - Intellicon Pvt Ltd, a provider of barcode solutions, has launched
iwarehouse management software, IntelliWMS. Addressing a press conference
in the city, Mr Sameer Parekh said, "IntelliWMS helps warehouses and a
company's supply chain gain true value from real time information." Intellicon
had revenues of Rs 14 crore the past year and estimates a Rs 25 crore
revenue this year, out of which it sees revenues from software services
rake in between Rs 4 and 5 crore. It has tie-ups with international vendors
including HHP USA, Metrologic Instruments and Zebra USA.
From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ 10/09/2003
TOPˇü
MALDIVES: Laying of Cables Underway in Kulhudhuffushi
to Provide Cable TV Service
MALE -- The Wave Length Private Limited has started laying cables in
Kulhudhuffushi island of Haa Dhaalu atoll, to provide cable TV services
in the island. The company started the work on Saturday. Wavelength also
started connecting houses with cables. "To accelerate the work, which
started on Saturday, the company is using a small excavator to dig the
roads," said Yunus Ibrahim, the owner of Wavelength. The company has also
started providing application forms for cable TV service. The connection
fee for this service is Rf1,500 per month. And monthly fee for the service
is Rf180. "People who have difficulty in paying the connection fee can
first pay Rf700 at the initial stage and then the remaining amount can
be paid later within three months," said Yunus. Although at the launching
stage of this service, 12 channels will be available, number of channels
will be increased, said the company. "Although, at the initial stage,
12 channels will be launched, there are equipment that can provide 15
channels. Even if channels are increased, the monthly fee will not be
increased," Yunus said. The channels that will be provided at the initial
stage include TVM, Cartoon Network, BBC, Sony TV, B4U and channels of
Star TV network.
From http://www.haveeru.com.mv/ 09/24/2003
TOPˇü
PAKISTAN: New Digital Telephone Exchanges to
Be Established
The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) will establish
275 new digital telephone exchanges in the region besides laying 77,000
new lines with an amount of Rs1,500 million during the next three years.
This was stated by Gujranwala Telecom Region (GTR) general manger Muhammad
Anwer while speaking at a meeting here on Saturday. He said the wireless
telephone system would be provided to subscribers on their demand which
might work within 25 kilometre range of the digital exchange. In the first
phase, he said the wireless telephone system facility was being provided
to Kamoki, Ghakkhar, Alipur Chattha, Daska, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin,
Bhago Alipur, Adil Garh and other towns while the wireless system was
being installed at digital exchanges. He pointed out that the PTCL had
made a record recovery of Rs3,998 million during the fiscal year 2002-03
besides laying 443,000 new telephone lines while 65,000 lines out of them
were kept reserved to meet any emergency situation. The GTR general manager
revealed that 18 complaint number was being computerized for detecting
wrong calls and any fault in the lines. He claimed that the corrupt officials
were being punished as two supervisors and as many linemen involved in
embezzlement were chargesheeted and would be dismissed from their service
if they were found guilty in an inquiry. Roads' destruction: The city
tehsil council has resented the negligence of the telephone and Sui gas
departments, which have destructed many newly constructed roads while
laying cables. The council has decided that the gadgets of these departments
lying on roads will be confiscated and damages will be claimed, according
to Nazim Babu Javed Ahmad. Convening an emergent meeting on Saturday,
the Nazim said the city tehsil council had recently constructed various
roads with an expenditure of hundreds of thousands rupees to ensure smooth
flow of traffic. However, he said, the PTCL and the SNGPL development
wings had damaged these roads while laying new telephone and gas pipes
without informing the relevant department and depositing the cost of repairs.
He directed the council's planning and engineering department to confiscate
the goods of these departments until these offered charges for repairs.
INQUIRY: A high-level committee, constituted by Wapda chairman Lt-Gen
Zulfiqar Ali Khan (retired) to probe power theft charges against the prime
minister's political adviser, recorded statements of the raiders and the
chief suspect on Saturday. Reports said the inquiry committee reached
Tohang Bucha village at Wahando and recorded the statements of the relevant
persons.
From http://www.dawn.com/ 08/24/2003
TOPˇü
PAKISTAN: Peshawar Number Plates not Available
PESHAWAR -- Non-availability of computerized number plates has been causing
problems for vehicle owners in Peshawar for the last eight months. The
five-year plan, which was started in 1998 to computerise number plates
of all vehicles in the NWFP, has run into snags and a large number of
vehicles are still without the computerized number plates. An official
claimed that since the departure of the contractor who was supplying number
plates, vehicle owners were facing problems. The vehicle owners have already
paid the charges for computerized registration numbers, but they have
not received the number plates. The Excise and Taxation Department, which
has been collecting fee for the issuance of computerized number plates,
asks the vehicle owners to collect their number plate after three months
but the department is short of number plates, official sources said. Fee
for the change of number plate of a car is Rs500, for motorbikes Rs300
and Rs795 for a truck, the sources added. "Some of the vehicle owners
who were issued computerized numbers have starting using unauthorized
plates due to non-provision of computerized plates," said an official
of the department. He stated that a large number of vehicle owners visited
his office daily to inquire about the number plates but the officials
offered lame excuses for the delay. The five-year contract was signed
with a private firm, Cyber Graphic Technical System Limited. Under the
contract, the firm was to supply 375,000 computerized number plates and
was supposed to link different districts with a main computer server.
The firm was also supposed to provide hardware and software to the excise
department. The contractor has sued the government for not fulfilling
some of the conditions agreed in the contract. He had demanded increase
in the cost of plate as he fell short of money, a source told Dawn. "The
plan which was supposed to eradicate all the irregularities and was aimed
at computerising the system by the year 2003 remains incomplete," sources
told Dawn. There are still over 100,000 vehicles in the NWFP which are
without computerized number plates. (by Sadia Qasim Shah)
From http://www.dawn.com/ 10/17/2003
TOPˇü |
|
| |
|
|
| |
AUSTRALIA: Women Doing Better in Hi-Tech
SOFTWARE, hi-tech services and telecommunications are among the best
performers when it comes to employing women as executive managers. The
2003 Australian Census of Women in Leadership names the sectors - alongside
retailing and healthcare equipment and services - as the biggest employers
of women executive managers. The 2003 Census finds women account for 18.33
per cent of executive managers in software and IT services companies in
the top 200 companies on the Australian stock exchange, while women hold
8.8 per cent of executive management positions in the companies overall.
Women account for 16.67 per cent of executives in telecommunications,
mainly because of Telecom New Zealand, the census finds. Telecom New Zealand
is included because it is listed on both the New Zealand and the Australian
stock exchanges. It was one of just five of Australia's top 200 companies
with a woman as chief executive, Theresa Gattung, at the Census cut off
date of March 31, 2003. Software and services and telecommunications also
performed well for women board members, scoring 13.64 and 21.05 per cent
respectively. Overall, women account for just 8.4 per cent of directorships
in the companies in the census, which was conducted by the federal government's
Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency, US-based research
organisation Catalyst and Macquarie University. EOWA federal director
Fiona Krautil said women were doing well at executive management level
in IT because the companies had a global focus and a talent management
focus. "It's an industry that relies on innovation and creativity, so
they have a real focus that talent can come in many packages," Ms Krautil
said. Women may also do well in those sectors because a lot of IT was
team-based, she said. "Maybe IT is doing better, and this is just my theory,
because you have a flatter structure, so you haven't got as many levels,"
she said. "In IT you have the team-based things, and women have more exposure
to strategy, I think." She said workers in these industries were also
comfortable with technology and using remote systems that make workplaces
more flexible and attractive to women. But the survey shows generally
that women are not getting profit-and-loss experience in the vast majority
of staff roles, she said. "They're running human resources, they're running
the legal department, and that's fine, but it's actually not the pathway
to executive management and chief executive positions and boards." Novell
Asia-Pacific chief executive Rhonda O'Donnell said the IT industries that
performed well were not necessarily traditional and could offer more flexible
work practices. "There are two issues: work life balance becomes easier,
but they're not necessarily hierarchical in nature," she said. "A great
example is our organisation, I'm on the Worldwide Management Committee
and yet, in terms of the hours, I can be very flexible about how I do
those, so they wouldn't know whether I was working from home, in the office
or where." (by Diana Thorp)
From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 09/07/2003
TOPˇü
Local Supercomputer Cracks Teraflop
A CONSORTIUM of NSW universities claims its new supercomputer is the
first Australian system to crack the teraflop processing mark. The Centre
for Advanced Computing and Communications (AC3) located in Sydney, reached
what it claims as a new Australian record of 1.095 teraflops (1.095 trillion
calculations per second) using the LINPACK benchmark last week, AC3 chief
executive Dr Philip McCrea said. The centre announced in August that it
would acquire a new supercomputer comprised of 147 3.06 GHz Dell PowerEdge
1750 dual processor nodes, each with 2 GB of memory. The system runs on
the Red Hat Linux distribution. The project was jointly funded by Sydney
University, the University of Technology Sydney, Macquarie University,
the University of NSW, the University of Wollongong and the Australian
Research Council. The 1.095 teraflop mark would have placed the system
at number 46 on the June 2003 list of the world's Top 500 supercomputers.
AC3 would be "delighted" if its system could maintain its place in the
top 50 by the time the next list was published in November, Dr McCrea
said. Nevertheless, the figure achieved set a new Australian benchmark
for systems assessed using the LINPACK yardstick, he said. "We broke out
the champagne last week," he said. The LINPACK benchmark uses a standard
set of equations to measure computational performance. At least two runs
using the benchmark are required to submit performance of listing on the
Top 500 list, Dr McCrea said. The new system would begin processing live
research data soon, Dr McCrea said. Research fields to use the new supercomputer
include photonics, microwaves, communications and drug research. (by Chris
Jenkins)
From http://australianit.news.com.au l10/08/2003
TOPˇü
State Bonanza More Than $1bn
SOUTH Australia's upcoming post-EDS IT contracts bonanza could be worth
more than the $1 billion price tag originally attached to it, as the Government
is considering tipping more work into the pool. SA Administrative and
Information Services Minister Jay Weatherill said the Government was committed
to reviewing and re-tendering the work contained in the existing EDS whole-of-government
outsourcing contract, and it was lining up other contracts for renewal
at the same time. Work from the former EDS contract is worth $1 billion
over five years, according to State Treasury estimates. "That's just what's
in the scope of the existing arrangement," Mr Weatherill said. "There's
the potential for more - for example, there's infrastructure and applications.
"We have a whole range of other contracts and we're lining them up in
terms of expiry dates, so we are in a position to go to market with a
whole range of ICT needs." Mr Weatherill said telecoms would not be part
of the work, but "it may be that telecoms providers are capable of bidding".
The state will unveil details of the first tranche of contracts on October
29, at a forum for IT companies in Adelaide. One thing potential bidders
will learn is that economic development - one of the driving factors of
the EDS contract - is much lower on the agenda. That raises the prospect
of another multinational taking work away from EDS without making the
same commitments to the state. "In a constrained budget environment, value
for money is high on the agenda," Mr Weatherill said. "It won't be the
case that industry development will be as dominant a focus in procurement
as it was with EDS. "It will be more focused on value for money." EDS
employs about 400 staff on the SA Government contract, and has been a
prominent promoter of the state's IT industry. EDS has 2000 staff in SA,
and 6800 in Australia overall. Mr Weatherill said potential job losses
- should EDS lose a substantial chunk of work - were "a factor to be taken
into account", but the company had not given any indication of its intentions.
"At this point, EDS is tackling it on the basis of winning as much work
as it can," he said. "EDS hasn't issued any warnings as to what may happen
if it doesn't achieve its present level of work." (by Simon Hayes)
From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 10/14/2003
TOPˇü
Victoria Reins in Telemarketers
THE Victorian government has moved to curb the hours telemarketers can
call people at home. Under amendments to the Fair Trading Act now before
Parliament, telemarketers will be banned from calling people at home after
8pm on weeknights and after 5pm on weekends. They will also be banned
from making calls on public holidays. But the changes will not apply to
telemarketers conducting surveys or to charity organisations. Consumer
Affairs Minister John Lenders said there was currently no restriction
under Victorian law on the hours telemarketers could call people at home.
Mr Lenders admitted the bill did not deal with telemarketers who called
people during dinner time, between 6pm and 8pm. He said the legislation
was instead designed to streamline the laws with existing door-to-door
sales legislation and interstate and federal guidelines, and reduce calls
at unreasonable hours. "We try to have a commonsense approach where we
protect people at home from being disturbed at unreasonable and late hours,
to try to balance that with the fact that telemarketing is a part of today's
commercial reality," he said. "I think we've got the balance right, but
as (is) always the case in this you will have some stakeholders who would
perhaps want you to go further in one direction or the other." Telemarketing
companies that break the new law will face penalties of up to $120,000,
while individual callers will face fines of up to $60,000. The fines do
not apply to the companies whose product is being sold. Mr Lenders said
the government was considering proposals for a register of consumers who
did not want to be called by telemarketers. However, the new laws will
force telemarketers to cease a call when requested by the consumer and
not call back for 30 days. Other changes will include giving Victorian
consumers a 10 day cooling off right for telesales over $50.
From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 10/16/2003
TOPˇü
ASX Links to Global Network
THE Australian Stock Exchange has signed a networking agreement that
will put it in touch with exchanges and brokers around the world, promising
improved access to overseas markets and a smoother inflow of foreign investment.
The internet protocol-based RadianzNet international network is used by
other stock exchanges, including New York, Boston and Chicago, for electronic
clearing, pricing and news services, and by thousands of international
brokers and clearing houses. The ASX would use the network for international
clearing and data dissemination services, ASX executive general manager
of production services Jeff Olsson said. Using RadianzNet would allow
companies to condense the multiple virtual private network connections
now used for clearing into a single major line, with perhaps an additional
line as a safety measure, he said. The rationalisation is made possible
by the number of organisations that use the network for transactions.
"It makes the overall telecommunications much simpler and much more scalable,"
Mr Olsson said. Some 9000 firms are connected to RadianzNet, established
by Reuters and Equant in 2000. (by Chris Jenkins)
From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 10/23/2003
TOPˇü
GUAM: GUAM: Telemedicine Connects Honolulu and
Guam
Honolulu - Doctors at the Tripler Army Medical Center are using telemedicine
technology to share their expertise with their Guam colleagues in treating
critically-ill patients, reports the Honolulu Advertiser. The $1.45 million
program allows Tripler specialists to examine intensive-care unit patients,
talk to them and monitor their vital signs through the use of high-resolution
remote-controlled cameras and real time transmissions. In use since mid-June
at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Guam, the pilot eICU program has resulted
in one documented saved life out of 25 patients examined so far, officials
said. Tripler is the first military medical center to use the telemedicine
product for long-distance ICU care. Others are expected to follow as part
of a move to improve treatment and reduce emergency evacuation costs.
According to the Advertiser, the eICU may be expanded throughout the Pacific
to include all of the smaller healthcare facilities with intensive-care
units in the Tripler system, including centers in Okinawa, part of northern
Japan and South Korea. Tripler is the specialty-level care provider for
Asia and the Pacific. The fiber-optic eICU is expected to result in significant
cost-savings by stabilizing some patients who might otherwise need emergency
air-evacuation at a cost of more than $100,000. Instead, those patients
can be transported on a regularly scheduled medical flight mission when
they are in better condition to fly. - Pacific Magazine
From http://www.pacificislands.cc/ 08/18/2003
TOPˇü
NEW ZEALAND: International IT Group Prepares
to Profile NZ Industry
Global information technology group Gartner is preparing to profile New
Zealand's information, communications and technology sector - a move it
believes will raise this country's profile among foreign investors. "It
would certainly help New Zealand get on the radar screens of overseas
companies looking to outsource IT services," Gartner research director
Ian Marriott said. The profile would analyse the strengths and weaknesses
of New Zealand's IT industry and identify where government policy and
private sector activities could be improved. More broadly, it would allow
overseas businesses considering outsourcing IT services to benchmark New
Zealand against other countries. London-based Mr Marriott was invited
to Wellington by software developer and consultancy Synergy International.
In Wellington this week, Mr Marriott met Economic Development Minister
Jim Anderton for talks about how to best ensure New Zealand appeared on
the global IT radar screen. (by Craig Howie)
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/ 07/24/2003
TOPˇü
Fund Puts Safety Net Under Tech Investors
The manager of one of the first protected technology investment funds
to be offered locally says such funds will allow New Zealand investors
to break their traditionally low weighting of tech investment - and to
do so safely. Paul Davis, an American investment expert who manages tech
funds from his farm on Banks Peninsula, has been brought onboard by Capital
Guaranteed Investments to manage its Orb Technology Fund, which is trying
to raise A$25 million to A$150 million ($28.4 million to $170.7 million)
to invest across a range of US-listed communications, medical science
and IT companies. The pitch is that New Zealanders can invest at a relatively
low entry level - from A$5000 - and have their initial investment protected.
Citibank underwrites the fund, holding back part of the money raised for
hedge investments. The fund has an eight-year term and contributors are
guaranteed their initial investment back or 80 per cent of the annual
net asset value of the portfolio, whichever is higher. Davis said New
Zealand investors tended to overlook tech stocks. The three sectors targeted
by the Orb Technology Fund accounted for 30 per cent of equity market
investment worldwide, which he said was a sensible minimum threshold for
a tech investment weighting. "To be underweight in those industries is
dangerous. It's not a sensible investment call. "Because these sectors
are dominated by businesses not listed in Australia or New Zealand, investors
here don't participate." Tech Invest, which manages the Orb funds, has
targeted 40 companies for investment. "We look for companies that are
undervalued relative to the present value of their free cash flows," said
Davis. Favourites within each sector were narrowed down. In communications,
for example, wireless and broadband service providers were favoured, as
regular voice and long-distance telephone firms struggled with huge infrastructure
but poor growth. Bellwether stocks may form part of the portfolio. Heavyweights
such as Microsoft and Intel have featured in Tech Invest's portfolios
in the past. "We're also going all the way down to companies only worth
US$30 million," said Davis, who already manages the A$37 million Technology
Investment Fund. The managing director of ASB Securities, Tim Preston,
said funds like Orb were likely to appear increasingly here as enthusiasm
for technology investment re-gained momentum. ASB had received strong
interest in the fund from customers, he said. Davis said the complexity
of the technology and medical science industries made individual investments
relatively difficult to track. "I started in the software industry ...
But I always told myself I wouldn't invest in the stock market until I
could afford to do it full-time. Amateur investors get done over." Closing
date for investment in the Orb fund is September 29.
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ 09/20/2003
TOPˇü
Kiwibank Turns to VoIP
Kiwibank has spent several hundred thousand dollars upgrading its rapidly-growing
Wellington call centre with an Internet protocol telephony system. The
contact centre started with 18 employees when the bank was founded in
2002 and now has a total staff of 91. The Cisco IPPC system, supplied
through Telecom, replaces the bank's conventional PABX, and will make
it possible to handle calls in more intelligent ways, says Kiwibank customer
services manager Chris Sturgeon. Customers can now identify themselves
by keying a pin into their handset rather than having to answer security
questions posed by contact centre staff. The Cisco IPPC system is also
making it possible to reroute incoming calls to particular staff - either
inside the call centre or elsewhere in the country - based on the phone
number customers have called to access phone banking or their customer
profile. Kiwibank isn't using the system to prioritise calls from high-value
customers, though Mr Sturgeon says the new phone platform does have the
capability to allow that. The system also has improved disaster recovery
features. Mr Sturgeon says "the jury is out" on whether Kiwibank might
set up more contact centres outside Wellington as its business grows,
or remain centred on the capital, but either way the IP-based system will
make it easier to expand the contact centre. "Some of the future benefits
are that if you have got a network of agents throughout the country, you
could easily route a call through to Invercargill, for example. That's
considerably harder to do with a conventional PABX." Mr Sturgeon says
the use of phone banking is still growing, despite the popularity of Internet
banking. Customers are using the phone to obtain bank balances and to
check if incoming payments have arrived and often turn to the Net for
services such as arranging bill payments, he says. TelstraClear will provide
telco services to law firm Bell Gully for the next three years in a deal
valued at $2.5 million. The company employs 250 staff in Wellington and
Auckland and will use TelstraClear's IP network for telephony and video-conferencing.
"The enhanced speed and security of this solution will allow us to create
a truly virtual law firm," says Bell Gully commercial director Don Staples.
"Our lawyers and clients will be able to work together and share information
securely wherever they are."
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/ 10/06/2003
TOPˇü
Canterbury Tops in High-Tech
Canterbury is the high-tech capital of the country, says a report from
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. The 76-page report says combined revenue
for 100 IT and electronics industries in the region totalled $792 million
for 2002-2003. Export earnings were $481 million and 3400 staff were employed.
According to Trade and Enterprise, the IT and electronics industry in
Canterbury is 30 per cent larger than in Auckland, and the productivity
of $200,000 per employee compares with a national average of $60,000.
The software firms, headed by Jade, account for 22 per cent of total revenue.
The big six Canterbury electronics firms - Allied Telesyn, Dynamic Controls,
Invensys, Tait, Trimble and Pulse Data - account for 62 per cent and 16
per cent comes from smaller electronics firms. Direct employment in the
industries is predicted to treble over the next four years, with output
rising to $1.48 billion. (by by Richard Wood)
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ 10/07/2003
TOPˇü
Big-Money Hopes for Broadband on the Farm
A $50 million Southland investment in broadband internet is expected
to return $190 million a year within five years, more than $400 million
a year in 10 years and create at least 490 jobs. Venture Southland strategic
projects manager Steve Canny revealed the figures at the opening of the
first Woosh Wireless transmission site, at Tuatapere, on Friday. He said
the figures, based on work done by Christchurch economist Geoff Butcher,
were conservative. "This reflects the opportunity for intensive management
of primary sectors like farming, tourism and process industries," Canny
said. "That means adding a little bit extra to traditional farming practices.
Broadband allows precise inputs into primary production, so you can better
understand what comes off the farm, understand what is happening and activate
remedial action quickly." Fonterra gives milk quality and health risks
information through its Fencepost internet portal. The dairy co-operative
is touting a Telecom-BCL internet service to farmers, but is likely to
face competition from the Woosh system. "It also means farmers or farm
businesses will be able to send high resolution images_4 of flowers, meat
cuts and so on to prospective markets," Canny said. One beta user, highland
cattle breeder Tim Gow, has used the service to beef up his website images_4,
and is looking at posting QuickTime videos of his beasts. "With tourism,
there is the opportunity to not just shift information but to surround
it with rich content, which increases the ability to differentiate in
the market," Canny said. Tourism already accounts for more than 9 per
cent of the region's jobs. Canny expects Woosh's voice service to be ready
for soon after the Invercargill transmission site goes live in November.
An entry-level package will include high-speed data and two phone lines,
including free regional calls and flat-rate national toll calls, for $85
a month. Canny said cutting the region's toll bill and Telecom access
charges would save $35 million a year. "There is a direct saving to schools
of $800,000 a year if they adopt this technology," he said. The investment
estimate includes $2.75 million from Probe - provincial broadband extension,
a Government project, which aims to connect all New Zealand schools to
high-speed internet. The Southland Community Trust and regional development
funding each provided $1 million. Southland District Council chief executive
Mike Ross said the run-down state of Telecom's network was one of the
main reasons the region's councils went looking for alternatives, starting
in 2000 with his council's submission to the telecommunications review
headed by Hugh Fletcher. "We were there because we are solely a rural
council, we have no major population centres," Ross said. "At the same
time we have Edendale, the second largest milk manufacturing operation
in the country, where Fonterra was investing $200 million." Ross said
dairy farming was booming, and the council could see its farmer ratepayers
needed high speed, reliable communications to help them reach their potential.
Working with the Invercargill and Gore councils, it set up Venture Southland
as an economic and community development agency, with one of its major
projects to bring broadband to the south. (by Adam Gifford)
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ 10/14/2003
TOPˇü |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
CHINA: Net Ready E-Business Seminar Series
to Be Introduced
China Enterprise Confederation (CEC) and Cisco Systems China announced
today the Net Ready E-Business Seminar Series. This series will share
the real experience of Cisco Systems and Chinese enterprises. It is designed
to teach business leaders and managers how to use information technology
(IT) and the Internet to achieve better business results. China Business
Cybercast (CBC) will broadcast a six-part weekly series, beginning on
August 25, based on the concepts and principles of the book Net Ready
and Cisco's expertise in using information technology (IT) and the Internet
as a strategic enabler for creating business value. It is expected that
enterprise business leaders and senior managers, and students and faculty
of sixty universities will view the broadcast. In the future this series
will also be available on CEC's new iQ Net Readiness Education Portal
at http://www.cec-ceda.com/. This informative and timely series will feature
insights and real-life practical examples from Cisco executives, Chinese
business leaders, and e-business experts and thought-leaders. The series
will review challenges, opportunities and the business and IT keys for
success for Chinese enterprises using IT and the Internet. "Globalization
and the recent health crisis has made e-Business a "must have" for Chinese
Enterprises," said Chen Ying, Deputy Director General of CEC. "However,
Chinese business leaders are concerned about investing wisely. Net Readiness
provides a simple practical framework and methodology to do e-business
right." CEC recently introduced a new portal for e-Business education
for Chinese enterprises. This series provides yet another tool for Chinese
enterprises. Cisco Systems, Inc (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide leader
in networking for the Internet. Information on Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com/.
From Xinhua News Agency 08/19/2003
TOPˇü
IRAN: 18th Int`l Electricity Confab Opens in
Tehran
Tehran - The 18th three-day International Electricity Conference opened
here on Monday with a ceremony attended by Minister of Energy Habibollah
Bitaraf, a number of MPs, Iranian and foreign experts, professors and
researchers. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, deputy minister of energy
and managing director of Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Organization (TAVANIR), Mohammad Ahmadian, said that the conference has
been organized through joint effort of the officials in charge and full
support of over 140 Iranian and foreign scientific and industrial institutes.
Some 231 essays from Azerbaijan, Germany, Jordan, Australia, Slovenia,
Britain, the US, Italy, Turkey, Russia, Japan, Sweden, Oman, Canada, the
US, Malaysia and Yugoslavia have been selected among a total of 868 submitted
to the conference secretariat. 'Some 140 professors and senior specialists
from the industry have been chosen as members of specialized scientific
boards and 250 were appointed as members of the jury. 'Simultaneous with
the ongoing conference, 50 training workshops on various fields of the
industry including generation, transmission, distribution, control an
protection, information technology (IT), environment, security and health
are also underway,' he added. Planning, systems studies, chemicals and
environmental materials, security, health, generation of electrical energy,
new energies, HV systems, precision tools and automation, control and
protection, load administration, management as well as economic and social
studies are among the issues to be discussed in the conference.
From http://iran.ru/ 10/21/2003
TOPˇü
JAPAN: Conference on Evaluating the State of
Competition in the Telecommunications Field
The MPHPT, in cooperation with the Telecommunications Carriers Association
and the Telecom Service Association, will hold a Conference on Evaluating
Competition in the Telecommunications Field on October 22 (Wed), 2003.
1. Details:
The MPHPT set up the study group on methods for evaluating the state of
competition in the telecommunications field as IP evolves in September
2002 with the aim of investigating methods for evaluating the state of
competition in telecommunications services, and a report was compiled
in July 2003. The MPHPT has taken this report into consideration and is
currently promoting the necessary preparations for implementing a steady
evaluation of the state of competition.
2. Conference Goal:
The MPHPT is planning to announce in the first half of October a basic
approach and details for implementing an analysis and evaluation of the
state of competition in the telecommunications business field. As the
contents can be a reference for the future telecommunications policy,
the MPHPT plans to invite comments from the public as an opportunity to
hear the opinions of a broad range of telecommunications business operators
and well-informed people, both from Japan and overseas, at the time of
the announcement, and so decided to hold this conference during the period
of the invitation to comment.
From http://www.soumu.go.jp/ 09/24/2003
TOPˇü
Strategic Seminars on Intellectual Property
for IT Ventures to Be Held
In order to raise the awareness of IT ventures concerning intellectual
property and to promote the diffusion of knowledge as well as information
exchange with experts, MPHPT will, under the auspices of Nippon Keidanren,
the Japan Venture Capital Association (JVCA), etc., hold a series of seminars
in collaboration with the Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA), et
al. from October 2003 through September 2004, in 14 venues nationwide.
This will be the first ever attempt for JPAA to hold a series of nationwide
seminars with a full-fledged curriculum tailored to support IT ventures.
Some two hundred patent attorneys will lecture at the seminars. Effective
use of intellectual property is critical for IT ventures in terms of management
strategy in order to gain the technological advantage and as a result
improve their power to attract such necessities like funds. In Japan,
however, many IT ventures have low awareness as to the need to obtain
intellectual property rights. In addition, IT ventures are not necessarily
offered sufficient opportunities to meet intellectual property experts
(patent attorneys, etc.) face to face. Furthermore, regional discrepancies
exist since depending upon the location there are extremely few experts.
Thus, with the objectives of raising IT ventures' awareness concerning
intellectual property and of promoting the diffusion of knowledge as well
as information exchange with experts, MPHPT has decided to hold in collaboration
with JPAA a series of seminars nationwide.
From http://www.soumu.go.jp/ 09/26/2003
TOPˇü
Symposium on Strengthening the Wireless IT Industry
On September 16, 2003, MPHPT, together with the Communications and Information
Network Association of Japan (CIAJ), convened a "Symposium on Strengthening
the Wireless IT Industry." At the Symposium, information exchanges among
people from the wireless IT industry and academia were made on future
trends of a ubiquitous network society, from the standpoint of R&D; on
wireless IT and the potentials of wireless business that can be realized
by frequency reallocations. In recent years, demands for radio spectrums
have been rapidly increasing, as exemplified by cellular telephones and
wireless LANs. In response to such circumstances, the Symposium was held
in order to realize a more strategic radio administration, for further
contribution, through use of radio spectrums, to the improvement of quality
of life and the revitalization of the Japanese economy. At the Symposium,
Mr. KATAYAMA Toranosuke, then MPHPT Minister, gavea keynote address, clearly
stating the "Strategy for Frequency Liberalization" based on the "Radio
Policy Vision." In the keynote address, the Minister expressed that contribution
to realization of the ubiquitous network society through construction
of the world's most advanced broadband environment is set forth as one
of the mid- to long-term goals and that efforts to implement drastic review
of frequency assignments and swift reallocation systems are required.
The Minister also showed the view that MPHPT will, as the first attempt
in the world, allocate frequency bands exclusively for consumer electronics
with IT functions, which Japanese consumer electronics manufacturers with
international competitiveness have been expecting tobe allocated. Under
a title of "Ubiquitous Computing and Japan's IT Strategy," Professor SAKAMURA
Ken (Director, YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory; and Professor, the
University of Tokyo) illustrated future impacts of ubiquitous computing
on the Japanese industries from the standpoint of promoting R&D; on information
and communications systems comprising ubiquitous networks. Mr. ITO Yasuhiko
(Senior Vice President, KDDI Corp.), under a title of "Business Opportunities
Created upon New International Frequency Allocation," predicted the potentials
of business creation through the frequency reallocation in the future
ubiquitous network society from the standpoints of assuming the Chairman
of Radio communication Assembly (RA-03), etc. and of a telecommunications
carrier. Mr. KAWADA Takashi (Advisor, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,
Ltd.),under a title of "Future Outlook of Wireless IT in the Age of Ubiquitous
Networks," forecasted the potentials of wireless business to be brought
about by wireless IT consumer electronics from the standpoint of a comprehensive
electronics manufacturer. At the end of the Symposium, Mr. IKEDA Shigeru
(President, CIAJ), under a title of "Industrial Approach toward Realization
of the Ubiquitous Network Society," anticipated the future market and
management strategies of the IT network industry with respect to IT businesses
in an expanding wireless subiquitous network society, from the standpoint
of presiding over an association consisting of corporate members in various
fields relating to information and communications networks. The outcomes
of this Symposium would contribute to the acceleration of efforts for
deliberating upon the future radio administration and the strengthening
of the wireless IT industry.
From http://www.soumu.go.jp/ 09/26/2003
TOPˇü
SOUTH KOREA: Continuing Education Cyber School
to Open Next Year
The Ministry of Planning and Budget will spend 1.5 billion won ($1.25
million) next year to open a continuing education cyber school for underprivileged
families. Under the program, the existing curricula of "radio" and "correspondence"
high schools will be transformed into an open-line, two-way cyber communication
system. The proposed cyber school will operate on a trial basis next year
and by 2008 will gradually be expanded to include primary and middle school
curricula. The ministry expects that the school will provide education
opportunities for prison inmates, the physically challenged and high school
dropouts, as well as under-educated citizens.
From http://www.kois.go.kr/ 09/30/2003
TOPˇü
First Cyber Electronics Exhibition Opens on
Wednesday
The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) opened a cyber electronics
exhibition, the first of its kind in Korea, on Wednesday. It will run
until Sunday (Oct. 12). The exhibition has been arranged as the first
overseas marketing project after KOTRA launched a cyber overseas marketing
platform. It enables to display products in cyberspace and have face-to-face
cyber business meetings between prospective exporters and buyers. A total
of 200 electronic companies are displaying about 450 products through
e-catalogues, moving pictures or three-dimensional images_4. KOTRA expects
that about 500 foreign buyers will visit the exhibition. KOTRA said that
export marketing through cyber trade is gaining popularity among Korean
exporters as online marketing has helped them save time and overseas travel
expenses.
From http://www.kois.go.kr/ 10/10/2003
TOPˇü
Busan Finalized as Host City of 2004 ITU Telecom
Asia
Korea's southeastern port city of Busan won the right to host the 2004
ITU (International Telecommunication Union) Telecom Asia, the largest
IT trade show in Asia. The Ministry of Information and Communication reported
on Monday (Oct. 13) that Chin Dae-je, Minister of Information and Communication,
and ITU Secretary General Yoshio Utsumi reached an agreement on selecting
Busan as the host city of the event and concluded the agreement at the
ITU Telecom World 2003 in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday. ITU Telecom
Asia 2004 scheduled for Sept. 7-11 will feature an international telecommunication
exhibition and a special session of the world telecommunication forum.
The exhibition will bring together the displays of the latest telecom
technologies and services, while the forum will address the latest telecom
issues in the region. The ministry expects that the show will draw about
500 IT companies all over the world and more than 50,000 foreign visitors
including such dignitaries as ministers of various countries and CEOs
of the world's renowned IT firms during the show period.
From http://www.mic.go.kr/ 10/15/2003
TOPˇü
KAZAKHSTAN: Workshop on IT Security in Astana
A one day workshop on issues of information security is carried out today,
on 4 September in Astana. The Committee of National Defence of RK has
initiated this workshop. At the workshop representatives of the presidential
administration, the prime minister chancellery, the government, the parliament,
the central executive authorities, the police and military structures
discuss issues, related with economic, juridical, organisational and technological
aspects in the information security of RK. Besides, issues of normative
and law provision of measures of interaction between the KNB of RK and
law and order structures and state authorities in the protection of state
information resources, as well as issues of abating the crime carried
out with the help of computer technologies.
From http://www.gazeta.kz/ 09/04/2003
TOPˇü
Cebit Informatics Eurasia Fair to Begin in Istanbul
ISTANBUL - CeBIT Informatics Eurasia Fair, a leading information and
communication technologies fair of Eurasia, will begin in Istanbul on
Tuesday. The fair will host nearly 900 companies from 20 countries including
China, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, South Korea, Singapore,
Denmark, Belgium, Thailand and the United States and 160,000 visitors
from 55 countries. The fair, which will be held over 24,000 square meter
area in seven halls, will cover the latest developments in technology.
Anadolu Agency (A.A) will also open a stand and inform visitors about
its activities. A.A will display its pictures and news items at the fair
through the VBI system that it used for transmitting its news and photo
services. A.A, the biggest news agency in Turkey and a leading one in
the world, broadcasts news and photos of latest developments in Turkey
and the world through satellite for 24 hours.
From http://www.turkishpress.com/ 09/01/2003
TOPˇü
| |
| |
|
|
| |
PHILIPPINES: DTI Agency Standardizes on Jitse-Phil
IT Exam
The Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) has adopted the Japanese IT Standards
Examination of the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Jitse-Phil.) as a national
IT standard exams. Jitse-Phil Foundation president Maricor Akol said that
the BPS has designated Jitse-Phil Exams as PNS 2030:30 - Information Technology
Engineers Skills Standard following a thorough review and endorsement
by the National Computer Center (NCC) in coordination with the Information
Technology Foundation of the Philippines (ITFP). Akol said this is the
first time in the IT certification program that the Jitse-Phil IT exams
has been recognized by the Philippine government through the Bureau of
Product Standards (BPS) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Developed by Japan Information Processing Development Corporation (JIPDEC),
the Fundamental Information Technology Engineers Skills Standards is now
a Philippine national standard for IT certification program. The Jitse-Phil
certification program is a joint project of the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
of Japan with Jitse-Phil Foundation implementing the program. The Fundamental
Information Technology Engineers Skill Standards specify what a worker
needs to know and do the job as well as the level of performance required
to demonstrate competence acceptable by both the local and foreign industries.
Akol said the implementation of such standards will benefit both the industry
in recruiting manpower with the guaranteed ability to perform and the
education sector in ensuring that they produce graduates who meet the
essential knowledge and skills. The fundamental IT engineers skills standard
is a wealth of information presented in a very compact form that includes
a description and listing of functions, tasks, key activities with corresponding
details on performance indicators. A standard examination is developed
in conjunction with the establsihed standard skills. According to the
Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) after a review and evaluation, the Jitse-Phil
exam is both general yet encompassing that ensure adherence to the established
skills standard. The examination covers computer systems, systems development
and operation, network technology, database technology, security and standardization.
This year's Jitse-Phil exams will be held on Sept. 7 in four designated
testing centers - Philippine Christian University in Manila, University
of Baguio in Baguio City, University of San Carlos in Cebu City and Ateneo
de Davao in Davao City. -Edu H. Lopez
From http://www.mb.com.ph/ 10/23/2003
TOPˇü
SINGAPORE: A S$5.4m Boost to Singapore's Web
Services Manpower Capabilities
Over the next two years, 51 Web Services specialists will be trained
as a result of a tie-up between the Infocomm Development Authority of
Singapore (IDA), Software AG and its seven local partners. The collaboration,
worth S$5.4million, is supported under the first Infocomm Training Attachment
(iTA) programme for Web Services. Of the 51 training places created, 10
are for existing employees of Software AG and its seven partners, while
41 are for new hires. The seven local partners are Cicada Cube, CyanSYS,
dotERP, Frontline Solutions, iCo-op.net, Philip Tang and Sons and S&I;
Business Applications (more information on the partners provided in the
Annex). Successful applicants will embark on a one-year comprehensive
training and attachment programme with the local or overseas offices of
Software AG and its seven partners. Through this programme, participants
will be exposed to a combination of theory and project-based training
in next-generation Web Services technologies. Leveraging the expertise
of skilled professionals from Software AG and the seven participating
organizations, participants will get the opportunity to learn how to apply
Web Services technologies to real-life business scenarios. Upon completion
of the one-year programme, the trainees will be bonded for two years to
Software AG and its seven partners where they can apply the skills and
knowledge gained during the training stint. Web Services has been identified
as one of Singapore's key Infocomm clusters that offers high growth potential
within the next one to three years. According to Gartner Consulting, Web
Services will dominate the deployment of new applications solutions for
Fortune 2000 companies by 2004. The global Web Services spend is also
expected to reach US$156 billion by 2005. With the potential growth in
Web Services, more Infocomm professionals with Web Services competencies
will be in demand. This iTA programme will contribute towards building
a pool of Web Services specialists in Singapore. "The collaboration between
Software AG and its local partners is a good example of how companies
with different strengths can combine their resources to help develop new
capabilities for the Singapore Infocomm industry. In the current economic
climate, the programme also serves as another avenue to create more employment
opportunities for job seekers as well as fresh graduates entering the
workforce", said Mrs Tan Ching Yee, Chief Executive Officer, IDA, speaking
at the opening of XMLAsia 2003 today. "Together with IDA, we will review
the challenges that our workforce will face in the Digital Age, and come
up with the most relevant programme for trainees selected for the Scheme.
Our relationship with IDA is also about opportunities, specifically how
to take advantage of relevant skills development opportunities to help
our resources attain the required depth to match the specific needs of
tomorrow's business world", commented Mr Clive Tilbrook, Director, Marketing
and Channels, Software AG Asia Pacific. The iTA programme supports the
Web Services Skills Certification Framework which was also launched by
Mrs Tan Ching Yee at today's XMLAsia 2003. The Framework is developed
jointly by IDA, the National Infocomm Competency Centre (NICC), Singapore
Information Technology Federation (SiTF) and XMLOne User Group. It aims
to develop Infocomm professionals and reskill them with Web Services competencies
by meeting the career and skills-progression needs of Web Services talent
at all levels, ranging from Developers, Specialists to Architects. At
the same event, IDA also announced eight new Web Services Developer courses
endorsed under its 1Critical Infocomm Technology Resource Programme (CITREP)
is an IDA training incentive programme to accelerate the development of
emerging, critical and specialised Infocomm skills sought after by the
Infocomm industry and user organisations. Relevant training courses that
impart knowledge and skills in the identified technologies will be evaluated
and endorsed under CITREP. Self-sponsored participants and organisations
that fully sponsor their employees for training in these endorsed courses
can apply for funding support, which covers course fees and exam fees
(if any). Web services and wireless technologies have been identified
as emerging Infocomm skills and are supported under CITREP. For details,
please refer to www.ida.gov.sg, "Infocomm Training Schemes.
From http://www.ida.gov.sg/ 09/10/2003
TOPˇü
Singapore to Offer 40 Business Licences Online
by Mid 2004
The Singapore government has cut the average processing time of business
licences to two weeks instead of three, as part of the republic's move
to trim red tape to boost entrepreneurship. It will also allow applicants
to apply for about 40 different business licences online by the middle
of next year. By July next year, entrepreneurs can apply for licences
in businesses such as public entertainment, food and beverage, media,
healthcare and education through the government's one-stop portal, called
Startup eAdvisor. The service is part of Singapore's move to trim business
red tape. So far the Pro-Enterprise Panel, a public-private sector initiative,
has accepted half of the 1,000 proposals for rule changes. "Each time
a suggestion is turned down, the suggester can always come back," said
Lim Siong Guan, the panel's chairman. "They can argue back and we may
reopen it. "Meanwhile the Action Crucible on Rules, a private sector group
which identifies areas where rules should be changed or simplified, wants
more feedback and better still, solutions. "For example, if a businessman
goes to New Zealand and discovers that New Zealand regulates in slightly
different way and that's actually slightly better than Singapore's, they
should give a suggestion and say, why don't we do it like that. And I
think that would be much easier for government bodies to consider," said
its head Patrick Daniel. He says he and his team will work with the government
and the media in seeking feedback on rules affecting businesses. (By Katherine
Tay)
From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 09/19/2003
TOPˇü
Expanding Infocomm Industry With Increasing
Demand for Infocomm Manpower
The Singapore Infocomm industry revenue grew by 5.1% from $30.65 billion
in 2001 to $32.17 billion in 2002, according to the Annual Survey on Infocomm
Industry for 2002. The companies surveyed also forecast continued growth
for the next 2 years - 4.5% for 2003 and 7.5% for 2004. These figures
were revealed by Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications
and the Arts, at the Official Opening of the IX2003 Conference and Exhibition.
Dr Lee also revealed that manpower needs would continue to grow albeit
at relatively modest rates over the next 2 years (0.2% in 2003 and 1.2%
in 2004). This is according to the Annual Survey on Infocomm Manpower
for 2002, which indicated that the current pool of Infocomm manpower in
Singapore stood at almost 104,000, representing 5% of Singapore's workforce.
About half were in the industry sector and the other half in supporting
end-user organizations.The surveys also indicated many Infocomm job opportunities.
In fact, over 3,000 job vacancies went unfilled in the industry in 2002.
The highest number of job vacancies was in Applications Development &
Integration, Technical Support and Infocomm Education & Training. The
Infocomm Industry Survey noted that the sector contributing most to the
total industry revenue growth was from Hardware Retail, about 34.5%, followed
by the Software sector at 25%. In terms of domestic market performance,
telecommunications services accounted for 40.3% of domestic revenue. However
in the export market, Hardware Retail and Software accounted for than
90%. Most exports went to the United States, followed by ASEAN countries.
"The Infocomm industry will remain resilient and important. ICT is pervasive,
and many new possibilities are yet to be fully realised," noted Ms Tan
Ching Yee, CEO of the IDA, "Looking ahead, the challenge, as it has always
been, is to marry the problems to be solved with technological solutions.
At the IDA, we are committed to helping Government and key sectors find
these opportunities and thereby grow the ICT industry. In this venture,
I am happy we have the industry as our partners." In March 2003, the IDA
identified five industry clusters with strong growth potential for Singapore
over the next three years. Good progress has been made in all these areas.
The clusters include, Web Services & Portals. The $40 million WEAVE programme
was announced in May 03. Since then, S$20 million has been committed to
13 projects piloting the use of web services in diverse industry sectors
from insurance to travel. These projects will create new jobs and generate
revenues of about S$46 million over the next 2 years. Singapore is also
the first Asian country to chair a global technical committee of the International
Organisation for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS).
This committee will develop Web Services implementation standards and
demonstrates Singapore's commitment to thought leadership in the global
Web Services industry. Value-added mobile services. Three new Calls-For-Collaboration
for mobile payments, workplace productivity and the development of Java-based
solutions have been completed . These are expected to generate S$38 million
in business spending. Another two are in progress. Wired and wireless
networks. IDA has initiated a partnership with Intel, regional telecommunications
companies and their vendors. The first five Asian Telecommunications partners
were announced recently. Testing will be conducted for roaming between
wireless networks and new standards for seamless interconnectivity between
fixed and wireless networks will be set. Multimedia Processing & Management.
Singapore is on the way to becoming a key node in the world trade of digitised
information, with the hubbing of games and entertainment companies here.
Digital distribution will be a key focus. Security & Trust Infrastructure.
The IDA will set aside S$21 million to help promote the growth of Security
& Trust infrastructure in 4 focus areas: Factor Authentication, Perimeter
Defence, Identity Management and Monitoring & Response.
From http://www.ida.gov.sg/ 09/30/2003
TOPˇü
VIET NAM: Seminar on" Human Resource Development
in Vietnam Quality Management"
Seminar on" Human Resource Development in Vietnam Quality Management"
was held by Vietnam Productivity Centre within the framework of co-operation
Program between Directorate for Standards and Quality and German Association
for Quality on September 23rd, 2003. The Seminar was to support Vietnam
Businesses in promoting ability and knowledge of personnel in the field
of quality management. The Seminar was an useful opportunity for personnel
exploring knowledge on quality management system; applying statistics
tools in quality management; total quality management; expertise in quality...At
the seminar, members were also supplied more information on human training
programs in quality management field within the framework of co-operation
Program between German Association for Quality and Vietnam Productivity
Centre.
From http://www.tcvn.gov.vn/ 09/29/2003
TOPˇü
Opening Techmart Vietnam 2003
On October 13th 2003 at Vietnam Exhibition Fair, Giang Vo, Ha Noi, Techmart
Vietnam 2003 was opened. This is the first time the equipment and technology
Market on national scale was held in Vietnam presided over by the Ministry
of Science and Technology; the People Committee of Ha Noi and the People
Committee of Ho Chi Minh city. With the theme " Connecting for development",
the Market was to promote relation between research and production, trade,
establishment and development of Vietnam science and technology market.
The opening ceremony was solemnly held with the participation of Mr. Pham
Gia Khiem- Deputy Prime Minister; Mr. Do Nguyen Phuong- Chairman of the
Commission for Science and Education; Mr. Ho Duc Viet- Chairman of Science,
Technology and Environment Committee of the National Assembly; Mr. Hoang
Van Phong- Minister of Science and Technology; Mr. Hoang Van Nghien- Chairman
of the People Committee of Ha Noi; Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan- Vice Chairman
of the People Committee of Ho Chi Minh city. Besides, Representatives
from Ministries, Branches, Provinces and Cities; Embassies in Hanoi; Representatives
from offices, businesses and Press Agencies were also attended. Attending
the Market was about 300 showcases of institutes, research centers, universities,
businesses in the domestic and foreign country with 2000 technologies
and equipment for offer. At the beginning day of the Market, 60 technologies
and equipment were signed to hand over. The Market took place on three
days, 13- 15 October 2003. On the afternoon of 15th October 2003, awarding
ceremony for advanced technologies and equipment basing on criteria: the
number of signed contract, memorandum, quality and the technology level,
showing form and technology introduction was held . Directorate for Standards
and Quality has three show- cases including show- cases of Metrology Center,
Vietnam Productivity Center and Vietnam-Germany Technology transfer and
Training Center (HwC).
From http://www.tcvn.gov.vn/ 10/14/2003
TOPˇü |
|
| |
|
|
| |
BANGLADESH: Bhuiyan Computers Holds Workshop
A business development workshop 2003 of Bhuiyan Computers was held recently.
The head of all information centres situated out of Dhaka under Bhuiyan
Computers attended the development workshop. Work area, business strategy,
operation and co-operation among members were key objectives of this workshop,
says a Press release. Bhuiyan Computers is an internationally renowned
education organisation. This organisation successfully maintains different
courses like 4 years computer science and 4 years BBA programme of national
university, 4 years Computer Engineering of Bangladesh Technical Educational
Board, international and advance diploma of NCC Education UK, ADEXEL authorised
A level and O level, and different courses from Btech. Besides there are
short course, package, programmes and Diploma courses in computer, spoken
English, IELTS and TOEFL course. Jamal Uddin Sikder, Managing Director
of Bhuiyan Computers was present in the programme as chief guest. In his
speech, he focused on the importance of English and computer education
in today's world. He thanked the head of all information centres for their
work for Bhuiyan Computers. The Executive Director M Solaiman, Director
Admin Najmul Hoque Jamali, Executive Director Thouhid I Bhuiyan and Finance
Director Faruque Sikder were also present during the programme.
From http://www.bangladesh-web.com/ 08/28/2003
TOPˇü
UITS to Launch Academic Activities Soon
University of Information Technology and Sciences (UITS), Dhaka, is going
to launch its academic activities soon to provide modern and quality knowledge
of IT in computer science and other subjects of Science and Arts. Dr A
Majeed Khan, Vice-Chancellor of UITS, said this at a press conference
held at a city hotel today. UITS is introducing the four-year courses
in BBA in Accounting, Economics, Management, Finance, Marketing, Information
Technology, BA in English Language and Literature, B Ed in Computer Education
and BSc in Nursing and Community Health Science, Electronic and Communication
Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, and Information Technology.
Key Executive Director of UITS Mirza Salman Ispahani, M Mohsin and Syed
Mahmudul Hoque also addressed the press conference. (by Chittagong)
From http://www.bangladesh-web.com/ 09/01/2003
TOPˇü
IT Edn Centre of BATB: 7th Batch of Dishari-Chechua
Completes Course
The 7th batch of Dishari-Chechua completed their two months course on
30th August, 2003. 12 students including 4 female students completed a
course on basic IT Education. 'Dishari'- an initiative taken by the British
American Tobacco Bangladesh to contribute to this progressive industry
and take forward their commitment of development of the youth, said a
press release. 'Dishari' basic IT education centre was born in July 2002
at Chechua, Kushtia to spread IT education among the rural youth. Dishari
works with a philosophy of providing a platform for the students which
can help them grow in future. Till date 78 students passed out from this
centre including 14 female students. In May 2003, the second centre of
Dishari kicked off in Moulvibazar, Sylhet. Dishari seeks to provide quality
education to the students through its standard course content and unique
infrastructural facilities. The classes at Dishari take place six days
a week from 9.00 A.M. to 12.00 P.M. The course content includes: English
orientation, Amazing world of Computer, Introduction to Computers, Introduction
to Windows 2000 (Operating System), Introduction to MS-Word 2000, Introduction
to MS-Excel 2000, MS-PowerPoint 2000, MS-Access 2000, Internet and its
Applications. Meanwhile. Dishari provides facilities the following in
the following spheres: 1. The full time teacher of Dishari is highly trained
not only in computer skills but also in interpersonal and communication
that aids in better learning environment. Modern teaching styles using
projector are an element of Dishari. 2. There is a full time Counselor
who assists the students in their different needs. 3. All the students
have access to individual PCs during the classes 4. The Dishari encourages
using the computer facilities in their off time which allows the students
to practice. 5. The centre has a 7-hour Library for the students. 6. The
centre gives opportunity to the Ex students to practice while regular
classes are off. 7. The students of Dishari work on different projects,
which applies different applications of Microsoft to enhance "learning
by doing". Dishari has already created thirst for personal development
amongst the students. They regularly keep contact with their course instructor
in the form of sending self-written poems, letters and continuous suggestions.
From http://www.bangladesh-web.com/ 09/02/2003
TOPˇü
A Dozen Students Complete IT Course at Dishari
A dozen meritorious students completed their two-month basic IT education
course at Dishari-Moulvibazar. It was the second successful batch of British
American Tobacco Bangladesh's IT Education Centre in Moulvibazar, Sylhet.
BATB launched Dishari as part of its commitment to social development
of the country in 2002 at Chechua, Kushtia to spread IT education among
the rural youth. Dishari works with a philosophy of providing a platform
for the students that can help them grow in future. Learning and experiences
derived from Dishari-Chechua, BATB established its second Dishari Centre
at Moulvibazar with evidence of increased facilities. Till this month,
some 102 students passed out from both the centres including 29 female
students. Students have expressed their gratitude to Dishari for offering
the course at free of cost and are extremely impressed with its facilities.
The full time teacher of Dishari is highly trained not only in computer
skills but also in interpersonal and communication that aids in better
learning environment. There is a full time Counsellor who assists the
students in their different needs. The centre gives opportunity to the
ex-students to practice while regular classes are not held.
From http://www.bangladesh-web.com/ 09/18/2003
TOPˇü
Dhaka to Join IT Summit in Geneva
A global IT summit under the auspices of the United Nations will begin
in Geneva on December 10. Dubbed as 'The World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS),' the three-day gathering would be attended by representatives
from 130 countries including 50 heads of state. Bangladesh is making preparations
to attend the summit being hosted by the Swiss Government. A government
delegation, expected to be led by Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, will
join the grand meeting. A Bangladesh Working Group of the WSIS has been
formed recently in connection with the IT summit with Syed Marghub Morshed,
Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC),
and Reza Selim, Bangladesh representative of the Global Knowledge Partnership,
as President and Member-Secretary respectively. The secretariat and an
information centre have also been set up at the office of BTRC. Syed Margub
Morshed told The Independent that the world summit on IT would act as
a bridge for removing the digital divide between the developed and the
least developed countries of the world. The WSIS would discuss plans to
alleviate poverty through information and communication technology. He
said Bangladesh would get the opportunity to seek cooperation of the attending
partners in the summit to develop its ICT sector. The BTRC Chairman said,
Bangladesh was giving priority to the summit as UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan had personally invited Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia to the summit.
Prior to the summit, a draft declaration and a working plan have been
prepared in two pre-conference meetings. The draft declaration would be
presented for adoption in September. Later, the Information Society of
UN would be formed following the final declaration of the summit in December.
Morshed said the WSIS would be a grand success like the Women's Conference
in Beijing and Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, as declarations from those
meetings were being adhered to by the participating nations. He said local
IT organisations comprising BASIS, BCS, ISP Association, IT personnel,
representatives of NGOs and civil society were also expected to attend
the global IT meet. Reza Ali told The Independent that the upcoming Geneva
summit would be the first phase of the World Summit on the Information
Society. It would address a broad range of issues relating to the Information
Society and adopt a Declaration and Plan of Action. The second phase focusing
on the concept of development would take place in Tunis hosted by the
Government of Tunisia, from November 16 to 18 in the year 2005, he added.
Meanwhile, a Bangladesh delegation led by the Minister for Science and
ICT Abdul Moyeen Khan is now in Geneva for participating in a meeting
of the Preparatory Committee of WSIS that began on September 15. (by S
M Salahuddin)
From http://www.bangladesh-web.com/ 09/28/2003
TOPˇü
INDIA: Seminar on Career Opportunities in Call
Centres
THE Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (Maditssia)
is organising a seminar here on `Career opportunities in the call centres'
on September 13. Mr K. Ramachandran, President, Maditssia, in a statement
has said that the concept of call centres has become very popular in customer
relations management. Of late, in the western countries, the information
technology and business organisations have distributed their jobs to the
experts in India and other South East Asian Countries, because of the
high payment of salary. Hence, this IT-enabled industries has a got a
good future for the educated mass in the country. More call centres are
coming up in India, especially in the southern region, where opportunities
for employment are growing with a demand for skilled youth and trained
staff. For placement in the call centres, one need not have computer knowledge.
One must be a graduate in any discipline and be in a position to work
during late hours and importantly, should be proficient in spoken English
in American slang. Through business process outsourcing at present, the
placement statistics is about 5 lakhs and this is expected to grow five
times in another five years. To meet this demand and to enlighten on the
opportunities for employment for the skilled youth in the call centres,
the seminar was being organised, he said.
From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ 09/10/2003
TOPˇü
Maples Opens Centre in Bangalore
MAPLES ESM Technologies, a Chennai-based consulting company focused on
enterprise systems management (ESM), opened its centre here on Wednesday
as part of its ongoing expansion programme. It recently commenced operations
in Hyderabad and Vijayawada. Maples provides training and consulting services
in ESM relating to managing operating systems, databases, network applications
for medium and large organisations. In application development, the company
focuses on IBM mainframe-related application consulting services. Talking
to Business Line, Mr N. Ram Subramani, Chairman and CEO, said that Maples
would be embarking upon a consortium consulting model, which would help
in optimising utilisation of the assets owned by the company, apart from
reducing the cost of services to its clients. The new service would be
launched by the middle of this month, he said.
From http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ 10/09/2003
TOPˇü
SRI LANKA: Children Acquire Basic Computer Skills
Without Much Effort
"It's heartening to note that the underprivileged children in a remote
village like Bandagiriya in Hambantota are immensely benefited by opening
a computer centre to provide them a comprehensive three months' residential
computer training, besides an ultra modern bakery to provide pastries,
bread, sausage buns, rolls, cakes, etc., funded by the Netherlands to
alleviate some of the hardships of the rural folk," said High Court Judge,
Hambantota. "The beneficiaries of the program should reap the optimum
benefits by following this course successfully to find gainful employment
once they pass out. I observe that the centre is in the middle of a full
bloom and blossoming emerald paddy field, signifying the finery, splendour
and charisma of a typical rural setting." The High Court Judge Guneratna
said: "Constructing a picturesque structure for the welfare of the rural
community isn't enough. Reaping the benefits on the long run should be
the most cogent and convincing factor. Otherwise, funds utilised for the
project will be wasted. Besides, there are several projects started in
these parts with the generous funds of the Netherlands taking into account
the well-being of the downtrodden rural children." "Terre de Hommes" ("Earth
for Mankind") South Asia Director, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh, Lei
Brouns said: "Some are of the opinion that donor agencies are their salvation
and they try to depend on them. But the axiom that 'God helps only those
who help themselves' is also quite true and precise, because depending
always on others' assistance for everything is not the panacea or universal
remedy, after all. It's obvious that beautiful buildings avail nothing,
if they are like 'white elephants' that are utilised for no purpose. They
are like empty lakes where no water flows. So what is started in a small
way to improve the conditions of the underprivileged should germinate,
grow and develop their inopportune lives. If this is the case, I can feel
happy the community will be benefited on the long run and I hope it will
ameliorate the lives of rural children in these parts so that they could
procure jobs through computer training to make a living." South Asia (Lei
Brouns said: "Sri Lanka has the highest rate of literacy but the other
side of the coin which is bleak is that knowledge of computer technology
in the country is very low. A basic knowledge of the computer is essential.
Computer training in the school as well as at home come handy for anyone.
It's astonishing how fast the children learn. In fact, I had to struggle
to learn it at my age and time. Children acquire basic skills without
much effort. In many countries, it's introduced at a much earlier age
for children." "He said: "When you acquire the skills, you can conveniently
find jobs, but it's not a guarantee. You have to work hard, because the
competition is very high. And if you are clever enough, you can easily
find a job. There are plenty of jobs available in the country for those
who possess a computer knowledge. You must take the chance to find them,
because Information Technology in Sri Lanka has a place." Let's also remember
that peace goes hand in hand with development because without peace there
cannot be any tangible development in the country, Lei Brouns added. Anuradha
Wickramasinghe, Director, Small Fishers Federation, Pambala, Chilaw and
several others also spoke. (by Christie Fernando)
From http://www.dailynews.lk/ 09/02/2003
TOPˇü |
|
| |
|
|
| |
AUSTRALIA: States Say Canberra Fails on Rural
IT
THE first meeting of the national council of IT ministers in 18 months
left states and territories disappointed with the Federal Government's
attitude to rural and regional telecommunications. State and territory
Ministers were generally happy with the outcome of the meeting, held in
Hobart, but telecommunications demand aggregation remained a sticking
point. Queensland IT minister Paul Lucas was most outspoken on the issue,
saying the Federal Government found demand aggregation "too hard", despite
the fact it had made $8 million available to assist state programs. "They
are happy to congratulate the states on what they are doing but they won't
do it themselves," he said. In a joint statement, the council said "State
and territory governments are of the view that the benefits of aggregation
would be greatly increased if Australian Government telecommunications
were made available for aggregation initiatives and the Australian government
agreed to consider the ramifications of this proposition." Mr Lucas said
the Federal Government could use its $400 million annual telecommunications
budget to "get really good infrastructure for rural and regional Australia".
The Online Council endorsed the National Broadband Strategy, although
Victoria reserved its position until an action plan became available.
The strategy will be released for public comment in the near future, a
spokesman for Telecommunications and IT Minister Richard Alston said.
Overall, the meeting took place in an "agreeable atmosphere" and was "pretty
low key", the spokesman said. The meeting also examined a "model" agreement
between Centrelink and WA government for online transactions. The work
is being supported by the Local Government Association and "could potentially
extend its reach to more than 600 local councils", the council said. The
council also discussed the Federal Government's response to the Estens
Inquiry into regional telecommunications, the sustainability of online
access centres in regional areas. The council found good progress had
been made in implementing the telecommunications action plan for remote
indigenous communities. They agreed to take part in the review of priorities
set out in the 1998 Strategic Framework For The Information Economy white
paper and set up a working party to examine the recommendations of this
year's Framework for the Future (F3) document. (by Chris Jenkins)
From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 09/30/2003
TOPˇü
$10m for Research on 'Digital Junkyard'
AN international research effort, spearheaded by Australia, is poised
to secure almost $10 million to help stimulate broadband content development.
Dr Phillip Graham, a senior lecturer at the University of Queensland business
school, is heading up the project, which will pilot the concept of a "digital
junkyard" for collecting potential broadband content. "There is miles
and miles of footage in audio, photography and all sorts of material that
does not get used, which we want to make available for distribution and
reuse on broadband," Dr Graham said. "We have basically got the infrastructure
built, we are just starting to digitise the material now, and we are pulling
together a group to do the various areas of research." The model will
rely on contributions from production houses, television broadcasters,
music and audio producers, digital artists, and various government bodies,
which already hold raw archives from bodies such as tourism commissions
and universities. The project is expected to contribute to the development
of new content by discovering the kinds of digital resources, data formats,
authoring tools, retrieval mechanisms, intellectual property models and
business models best suited to broadband content development. Dr Graham
said mass digitisation strategies for converting other forms of media,
faster high-fidelity digitisation and various software and hardware developments
were likely commercialisation outcomes. "A lack of resources is one problem,
but there are a lot intellectual property difficulties with people using
and reusing material, and it is very blurry on the internet as to what
can be used, when and how. We are trying to work through that." Dr Graham
is working on the project with researchers from the University of Waterloo's
Canadian Centre for Cultural Innovation (CCCI), as well as the local initiative,
the Australian Creative Resources Archive (ACRA), based at UQ's Ipswich
campus. Dr Graham has received more than $2 million in grants for the
international project, with an additional $4.9 million under assessment
and $3 million in related grants under development in Australia. He said
the Queensland Government was assessing a grant for a bigger version of
a digitisation factory, which is likely to be based at Queensland University
of Technology. Further grants also were being considered by the federal
government and the Australian Research Council. The international project
also includes researchers from the Australian National University (ANU),
QUT, Stanford University and Hewlett-Packard Laboratories. "The future
for broadband content is open source multimedia repositories like the
ones we are building," Dr Graham said. Teachers, students and aspiring
documentary makers could all have access to high-quality material normally
beyond their budgetary constraints under the project. (by Jennifer Foreshew)
From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 10/07/2003
TOPˇü
Sun to Sponsor Delegates for National Linux
Conference
Sun Microsystems is once again sponsoring one delegate from each Australian
state and territory to attend the annual national Linux conference, linux.conf.au.
The Regional Delegate Programme allows one person from each state and
territory to attend with all major expenses paid. Regional user groups
have been tasked with receiving applications from their respective regions.
Applications close on October 20.
From http://www.theage.com.au/ 10/13/2003
TOPˇü
Young IT Millionaire Taps into Students
Even a 21-year-old millionaire can't beat Auckland traffic. Canadian
IT whiz Michael Furdyk's taxi was late getting to Northcross Intermediate
School on Friday, where he had been invited to speak by principal Jonathan
Tredray. Although he was due to leave the country in five hours, Mr Furdyk
spent two hours at the school, telling children about the global movement
of youth talking to youth and encouraging them to believe in their dreams.
Despite being featured in Time magazine and having worked with IBM, Mr
Furdyk still seems down-to-earth and approachable. Dressed informally,
he looked more at home in the school than in a corporate boardroom. Mr
Furdyk is co-founder of TakingITGlobal.org, a global platform for youth
to air their views. With 400,000 young people on the website but only
140 New Zealand members, Mr Furdyk hoped his visit to Northcross would
boost Kiwi participation in an international youth movement. It's a platform,
he says, offering young people around the world the opportunity to speak
on issues they feel strongly about. Members contribute their writing and
artwork to the site. A collective sigh was exhaled when Mr Furdyk showed
the work of teenager, Haseeb, who illustrated the struggle for peace in
Afghanistan. Mr Furdyk hopes to have the website translated into five
languages by the end of the year. Over the years, Mr Furdyk has done work
for corporations like IBM and Microsoft, appeared on Oprah and Time magazine,
and been voted Teen People's 20 Teens that Will Change the World. He started
developing his talents at the age of two, on the now defunct Commodore
64. When he was eight, he and his friend, Sean, were hooked on collecting
baseball and hockey cards. He spent all his money on the cards, and figured
out how to produce a software programme to keep track of the cards while
making money to buy even more cards. The boys advertised their startup
software on telephone poles and got no response. But this early setback
did not deter him. He adopted Thomas Edison's philosophy: "I haven't failed,
I've learned 10,000 ways which don't work." He then discovered the internet,
and web design. His first website was on the relatively new internet itself.
He sold two advertisements on the website for $1000, which sparked his
interest in the money-making aspects of the net. At 16, he co-founded
technology website MyDesktop.com,which he later sold to Internet.com for
an undisclosed sum. The website, and Mr Furdyk, shot to fame when they
discovered a flaw in the Microsoft Windows operating system and published
it. The finding was picked up by other media, and one million people subsequently
logged on to his website, crashing it. His message to Northcross students
was simple: Believe in your dreams. "I learnt by making a lot of mistakes."
(by Errol Kiong)
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/ 10/14/2003
TOPˇü
NEW ZEALAND: $14m Computer Block Open at Auckland
University
Auckland University's fast-growing computer science department is celebrating
the end of the computer industry downturn by opening a $14 million building.
The department, with 1300 equivalent fulltime students, is the university's
biggest and has more than doubled in the past six years. Graduate student
numbers jumped by 50 per cent this year alone. The department's new glass-fronted,
seven-storey building on Wellesley St includes three floors of laboratories
containing 600 computers. Department head Professor John Hosking said
growth in undergraduate numbers flattened this year because of the worldwide
"dotcom" crash, but he expected numbers to be up again next year. "My
industry sources tell me that they are hiring again and the sector is
picking up," he said. The impact of the IT downturn on overseas computer
science departments had been declines of up to 50 per cent. The building
is part of a $200 million expansion of the university.
From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ 09/24/2003
TOPˇü
Degree Course a First for Online Global University
An online university, partly owned by Auckland University, has launched
its first degree course - an online MBA. Singapore-based Universitas 21
Global is a joint venture between Universitas 21 - a network of 17 universities
worldwide including Auckland University - and United States Company Thomson
Learning. Dr John Hood, previously vice-chancellor of Auckland University
and now heading Oxford University, is the chairman of Universitas 21.
U21 Global is designed to make university education accessible to those
who are unable to study at traditional universities, such as students
living outside university cities. Students and lecturers will communicate
via e-mail, real-time online chat and threaded discussions. Universitas
21 Global's proprietary learning management system includes online announcement
boards and notepad facilities to enable students to create their own lecture
notes. A Master of Business Information Systems is due to follow next
year. Auckland University's Professor David Emanuel says New Zealand is
not a target market for the online university, which is initially focused
on students in China and India. "It's not aimed at New Zealand candidates,
but it's certainly not impossible." As well as being a part owner of Universitas
21, Auckland University is also involved in accreditation and individual
staff may be involved in teaching. Professor Emanuel is unaware whether
any Auckland University staff have been contracted to help deliver content
for the online university. "That will be a private contractual arrangement
between them and Universitas 21 Global." (by Heather Wright)
From http://www.stuff.co.nz/ 08/11/2003
TOPˇü
Schools Do Well in ICT Study
Six out of 10 secondary school principals say ICT is improving the quality
of teaching. Secondary schools have one computer for every four students
and 83 per cent have their own websites or web pages, according to a comprehensive
study which has just been released. The student-computer ratio has improved
from one computer for every six secondary school students two years ago.
The Learning Centre Trust study, sponsored in part by the Education Ministry
and carried out by research firm BRC in May and June, also shows more
primary schools are making wider use of technology. They have one computer
for every seven pupils, up from one in 10 two years ago. More than a third
have their own website and 63 per cent said ICT was improving the quality
of delivering the curriculum. The proportion of secondary schools and
primary schools with broadband Internet connections of 512 kilobits per
second or higher was 63 per cent and 29 per cent respectively. All schools
should have this by the end of 2004 as a result of the Government's Project
Probe initiative. The findings are based on questionnaires sent to 602
schools, of which 339 provided detailed responses. The Learning Centre
Trust cautions it is possible the schools that responded may be more technology-inclined
than those that didn't, so the results may be somewhat skewed. Seven in
10 schools make learning material available to students over the net and
40 per cent of secondary schools and 14 per cent of primary schools teach
or receive classes online. Learning Centre Trust chairman David Copeland
says the study's results are upbeat. "One thing that's exciting is the
number of schools that say they already or intend to make ICT facilities
available to the community. There's a growing recognition that fully utilising
ICT involves empowering communities to use technology and that means the
learning space expands beyond the walls of the school." Though the study's
findings clearly portray the rapid onward march of technology in education,
a few of the statistics are less flattering. Two-thirds of schools can
be described as fully-networked with more than 80 per cent of classrooms
linked, but in most schools more than half the computers are more than
three years old. While only 17 per cent of secondary schools and 28 per
cent of primary schools don't intend to set up a website or homepage,
most school websites that are already online are only being updated once
a month, or less often. More than four in 10 primary schools and one in
10 secondary schools say access to the internet is neither monitored nor
filtered. Mr Copeland says he "would be more concerned" if schools said
they had no policies relating to internet content. "There are a lot of
cars with no airbags, but that doesn't mean their drivers aren't concerned
about having accidents. The answer is not just in software, it's about
security and understanding and critical judgment. That's not new. "The
real issue is not in schools, to be blunt. If you want to go to the wrong
places on the net you don't do it between physics and chemistry." Challenging
the stereotype that most students know more about computers than their
teachers, the study shows more teachers access the web and email at school
than students. Schools estimate teachers are also more likely to have
access to computers and the Internet at home than students. Seventy per
cent of secondary school principals and 67 per cent of primary school
principals say they access the web on a daily basis, either at home or
at school - up from 51 per cent and 53 per cent respectively two years
ago. Only one in 20 secondary heads and one in 12 primary school principals
said they didn't use email at least once a day. Four-fifths of secondary
schools provide all their teachers with e-mail addresses. Nearly a third
of secondary schools and 10 per cent of primary schools have also given
them to students. (by Tom Pullar-Strecker)
From http://www.stuff.co.nzl10/13/2003
TOPˇü |
|
APEC
SME Ministers Call for Greater Networking Between Business, Government,
Trade Promotion Authorities and Banks
