| Azlan Othman |
IN LINE with the national vision to ensure a high quality of life for all by 2035, the Ministry of Communications (MinCom), through the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) and the national telecom firms, is making all-out efforts to meet the requirements of realising Brunei’s Smart Nation goal.
The ministry is striving to achieve this goal through technological advancement, human capacity development, investment and creating a conducive environment in terms of infrastructure, accessibility and affordability for all, said Haji Azhar bin Haji Ahmad, the Permanent Secretary at the MinCom.
Speaking at the opening of the one-day Telekom Brunei Berhad (TelBru) ICT Forum at The Rizqun International Hotel yesterday, he said, “While capitalising on the rapid changes in technology, we should aspire to not only become the end users of technology but venture aggressively into providing solutions through dedicated research, innovation as well as institutionalisation of intellectual property rights for ICT products.
“The Ministry of Communications and AITI will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of existing regulatory policies relevant to the current sophisticated ICT eco-system. This is where the close cooperation between the government and telecom operators will play a critical and mutually-beneficial role in various areas such as local content development and other aspects of creative industry in the name of Brunei-made products,” Haji Azhar added.
“Advancements in technology specifically related to telecommunications, are already included in the existing national policy which is aimed at realising sustainable development to address 21st Century challenges. I believe that this forum can provide us with another avenue to ensure effective implementation of these initiatives. This will help us achieve the goal towards narrowing the digital divide, enabling us to create a dynamic and knowledge-based society.
Haji Azhar bin Haji Ahmad, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications, delivering his speech at the TelBru ICT Forum at The Rizqun International Hotel yesterday.
Haji Azhar bin Haji Ahmad, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications; David Kay, CEO of TelBru; and Lim Ming Soon, Chief Marketing Officer of Telbru, viewing the exhibition for the TelBru ICT Forum at The Rizqun International Hotel yesterday. – PHOTOS: AZROL AZMI
“This knowledge-based society will become the springboard for us to venture into a variety of telecommunication services, improve efficiency in services, grow the private sector and strengthen the overall economic climate for continuous development, the permanent secretary said.
This year’s TelBru ICT Forum highlighted a theme specifically chosen to raise public consciousness on the possibilities presented by the Smart Nation vision.
The event provided insights into the possibilities of realising the Smart Nation concept, which primarily utilises the ‘Internet of Things’ (loT), improving day-to-day living conditions while also addressing the pressing issues related to globalisation.
The sidelines of the forum saw the launching of the Smart Nation Online Community developed by TelBru. The community was created to encourage further Smart Nation discussions among the population, to provide the people with a voice of what it means to live with Smart Nation, to better understand their needs and how the current and future ICT tools can meet their expectations.
Over 300 participants from across the nation including corporate entities, government officials, ICT developers and students were present at the forum which aimed to inspire potential and young leaders to seriously consider the role they can play in realising Brunei’s Smart Nation ambition.
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