Singapore’s government plans to restructure its technology, media and telecoms regulators to reflect convergence. The newly-formed Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) will be responsible for overseeing and promoting the telecom and media sectors.
Singapore’s government plans to restructure its technology, media and telecoms regulators to reflect convergence.
The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) said in a statement that the existing Info-communications Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) will be replaced by the Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) and Government Technology Organisation (GTO).
The new IMDA will regulate the converging telecom and media sectors and implement the government’s Infocomm Media 2025 plan, launched last August and aimed at developing the industry. It will also promote and regulate data protection via a new Personal Data Protection Commission.
“The new IMDA will also deepen regulatory capabilities for a converged infocomm and media sector, safeguarding the interests of consumers and fostering pro-enterprise regulations,” the communications ministry said.
The GTO, for its part, will lead the country’s digital transformation in the public sector, encouraging citizens to help create public digital services and capitalising on trends such as the Internet of Things and Big Data. It will also help to ensure the security of government infrastructure.
The two new organisations will be formed in the second half of 2016 and the two existing ones reorganised from April.
IDA chairman Chan Yeng Kit commented: “The [telecom] landscape has evolved over the years, and the pace will quicken with growing [telecom] and media convergence. Our government agencies responsible for [telecom] and media must ensure they are optimally structured to help Singapore benefit from and exploit opportunities in the new digital economy.”
MDA chairman Niam Chang Meng said the changes “pave the way for a more harmonised regulatory framework, and integrated approach to industry development”.