ICT ministry targets Smart Thailand in 4 years

New Thai ICT Minister, Anudith Nakornthap recently announced the Smart Thailand Plan, to offer modern public services through high-speed internet.

According to the minister, the group plans to utilise high-speed Internet to upgrade and modernise public services, targeting to cover some 80-85 per cent of the country.

Nakornthap plans to set up new committees to scrutinise existing contentious projects including a nationwide 3G network expansion.

The ICT ministry is working closely with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission and private telecom operators on WiFi network installation to provide free connection by the end of the year.

Collaboration with all relevant agencies are also underway to develop a common public database needed for launching the e-services for people in all Thai regions. Provinces where the e-public services will be implemented as pilot projects will be designated over the next couple of months.

Basic e-public services mainly include those facilitating district offices’ workloads on issuing identity cards for Thai nationals, household registrations and population censuses, as well as e-education, e-health and e-agriculture services.

“Once the e-public services are launched, people can access public health services in their respective area through high-speed online programs, obviating the need for those in remote areas to travel to hospitals located far away,” Nakornthap added.

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