Singapore IDA, MDA to merge for more holistic approach to ICT and media

SINGAPORE'S Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) will restructure the Info-communications Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) to form the Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) and the Government Technology Organisation (GTO).

The new entities will be formally set up in the second half of 2016, while IDA and MDA will be administratively re-organised from April 1, 2016. MDA chief executive officer Gabriel Lim will helm the new IMDA with IDA managing director Jacqueline Poh heading GTO.

The MCI said on Monday that the new IMDA will develop and regulate the converging infocomm and media sectors in a holistic way. It will implement the Infocomm Media 2025 plan, to create a dynamic and exciting sector, filled with opportunities for growth, through an emphasis on talent, research, innovation and enterprise.

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

"With more pervasive use of data, the Government will continue to promote and regulate data protection in Singapore through the Personal Data Protection Commission, which will be part of the new IMDA. 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,'' the ministry said in a release.

The new GTO will lead digital transformation efforts in the public sector. It will focus on providing a citizen-centric user experience and encourage the participation of citizens in the co-creation of public digital services. While anticipating and meeting citizens' expectations for digital service delivery, the GTO will continue its efforts in ensuring the resiliency and cybersecurity needs of the government infrastructure.

The restructuring follows the launch, in August 2015, of the Infocomm Media 2025 plan, the first integrated industry development plan for the info-communications and media sectors. It also recognises the importance of the Digital Economy in transforming many sectors in the economy, as well as the need to support the transformation of government service delivery through even more intensive use of IT.