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The Government Technology Organisation and Infocomm Media Development Authority will be set up from the second half of 2016

The Singapore government will restructure the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) and the Media Development Authority (MDA), the Republic’s Ministry of Communications and Information announced today.

The Government Technology Organisation (GTO) and the Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) will be formed as part of the restructuring.

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Government Technology Organisation

The new GTO will lead digital transformation efforts in the public sector, helping government agencies to capitalise on the speed of innovation and new technology trends such as those in robotics, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and Big Data.

“Our government agencies responsible for infocomm and media must ensure they are optimally structured, to help Singapore benefit from and exploit opportunities in the new digital economy,” said IDA Chairman Yeng Kit Chan. “The government itself can do more to leverage on technology and innovation to provide more engaging, seamless and efficient digital experiences for Singaporeans. The creation of IMDA and GTO will help bring sharper focus to these areas.”

The GTO will focus on providing a citizen-centric user experience and encourage the participation of citizens in the co-creation of public digital services.

The resilience and cybersecurity needs of government infrastructure will also be under the GTO’s purview. The new organisation will also play a vital role in supporting Singapore’s Smart Nation vision.

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Info-communications Media Development Authority

The current MDA will incorporate a focus on info-communications in the refurbished IMDA.

It will develop and regulate the converging infocomm and media sectors in a holistic way and implement the Infocomm Media 2025 plan.

“Advances in technology have blurred the distinction between broadcasting and telecommunications. The reorganisation of IDA and MDA is, therefore, not only timely, but a positive development,” said Boon Hwee Koh, Chairman of the Infocomm Media Masterplan Steering Committee. “The infocomm media sector offers many opportunities to improve productivity growth, create high-skilled jobs, support an ageing population and foster a cohesive society in the midst of globalisation.”

Part of the mandate for the new IMDA is also to deepen regulatory capabilities for a converged infocomm media sector, safeguarding the interests of consumers and fostering pro-enterprise regulations.

The Personal Data Protection Commission will be part of the new IMDA. The Commission will continue to promote and regulate data protection in Singapore and ensure that public confidence in the private sector’s use of personal data is safeguarded, even as companies increasingly leverage the data they collect as a source of competitive advantage.

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