SINGAPORE — With the Broadcasting Act under review to keep pace with the new media environment, the infocomm and media authorities will be merged by the second half of this year, while a new statutory board will be set up to lead digital transformation efforts in the public sector.

The new Government Technology Organisation (GTO) will support the Smart Nation vision and help government agencies tap new trends such as robotics, artificial intelligence and Big Data. It will also take over the role of the Infocomm Development Authority’s (IDA) Government Chief Information Office in driving infocomm technology initiatives, among other things.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a forum on the Internet of Things, Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim today (Jan 18) described the merger of the IDA and the Media Development Authority (MDA) — to form the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) — as a “bold step” that would bring about benefits for consumers, businesses and the public sector.

Writing on Facebook later, Dr Yaacob said: “The convergence of the infocomm and media sectors has accelerated in recent years. It has brought up considerations to merge the infocomm and media’s development and regulatory functions from time to time. Thus far, we have managed the coming together of the sectors through closer collaborations between IDA and MDA.”

For consumers, the reorganisation would improve the delivery of public services. Consumers’ interest can also be better protected by having consistent standards for the different platforms, Dr Yaacob said. “I can control what I see on television, but my son is watching something else on his own device. How do I ensure both devices are subjected to the same set of rules and regulations, without inhibiting growth but ensuring a level playing field, and consumers’ interests?”

Telcos and media companies providing content on digital platforms, for example, would also have fewer hoops to jump through and a single consistent framework for licensing - instead of having to go to MDA and IDA separately - would greatly facilitate the firms’ development and planning, said Dr Yaacob. 

All three telcos - Singtel, StarHub and M1 - welcomed the reorganisation, with StarHub CEO Tan Tong Hai noting that it was “no longer possible to draw a clear line between the info-communications and media spaces”.

Elaborating on the role of IMDA, Dr Yaacob said it will be geared towards the setting of industry standards, as the “converged promoter and regulator”.

It will implement the Infocomm Media 2025 plan and chart out ways to use technology to transform how people live, learn, work and play. It will also continue to promote and regulate data protection through the Personal Data Protection Commission. “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 Dr Yaacob.

Member of Parliament Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang GRC), who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) on Communications and Information, said the reorganisation would allow for a more “streamlined” regulatory framework for companies. Citing services such as Netflix and Spotify which have changed the landscape significantly, he said:  “Lines are being blurred across the different sectors… It’s a new world now.”

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Saktiandi Supaat, who also sits on the GPC, did not think that the move would mean greater censorship of content on digital platforms. “I don’t see it as a signaling that there is further tightening, but that we are trying to synergise so that we can (create) a better environment,” he said.

Mr Matt Pollins, a technology and media lawyer at Olswang Asia, noted that regulators around the world are grappling with similar challenges amid a converged landscape. “With a lively start-up ecosystem and new market entrants pushing the limits of media and technology, a converged regulator with a joined-up approach make sense,” he said.

Mr Aravind Venugopal, vice president of Media Partners Asia, added: “This new regulator will now be able to not only examine issues pertaining to media and content... but also tackle issues with regards to how these services are delivered.”

The reorganisation will begin from April 1, ahead of the formal establishment of the new organisations. IMDA will have 750 staff, with more than half moving over from IDA. GTO will have a headcount of 1,800 employees. The total number of employees in IMDA and GTO will be unchanged from the existing headcount at IDA and MDA.