IDA, MDA to be restructured into two new Govt agencies

SINGAPORE — A major restructuring exercise of the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) and Media Development Authority (MDA) will see the formation of  two new agencies - the Info-Communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) and  Government Technology Organisation (GTO) - by the second half of this year.

This was announced by Minister for Communications and Information Dr Yaacob Ibrahim as he spoke at an international telecommunications forum at Suntec earlier this morning (Jan 18).

Rapid changes in the digital economy, and a growing need for “more intensive use of IT” to transform government service delivery were cited as some reasons behind the restructuring.

The IMDA will focus on deepening and regulating the convergence of infocomm and media sectors in a “holistic” and integrated way. Led by MDA’s chief executive Gabriel Lim, the IMDA will implement the Infocomm Media 2025 plan.

"This will 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," said Mr Yaacob.

Meanwhile, the GTO will focus more on ramping up the hardware  - such as improving the delivery of the services in the government’s digital infrastructure, and ensuring it is robust enough to withstand cyber security threats, for instance.

Likewise, it seeks to help government agencies ride on new technology trends amid a landscape rife with rapid innovation -  such as robotics, artificial intelligence and Big Data - as well as play a key role in Singapore’s Smart Nation vision through delivering the Smart Nation Platform and Smart Nation applications.