Highlights

• Building a pipeline of infocomm professionals to build a strong Singapore core
• Ensuring our infocomm professionals are equipped with updated and relevant skills
• Providing space for collaboration and digital content creation, deepen skills in story-telling and content production
• Giving out SkillsFuture Study Awards to support Singaporeans in lifelong learning
• Singapore is pushing ahead in our Smart Nation journey. To achieve this, we will build a world class infrastructure for pervasive connectivity, lead in the use of technology for our daily lives and nurture a larger research and innovation system, to create value for the economy
• Wireless@SG will be enhanced – the number of hotspots doubled by 2018, and upgrading its speed to 5Mps
• Public Service Broadcasting will be reviewed to keep up with media convergence and shifting consumer viewing trends and ensure that broadcasters are equipped to produce quality local content
• A National Reading Movement will be launched this year to get more Singaporeans to read more, read widely and read together, in order to create a vibrant and pervasive reading culture in Singapore.

The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) announced its plans to develop infocomm, media and design capabilities at its Committee of Supply Debate speech. It also touched on the plans to make Smart Nation a reality in and the launch of National Reading Movement later this year. Singaporeans can also look forward to enhancements to Public Service Broadcasting and Wireless@SG.

Developing Infocomm, Media and Design Capabilities

• The Infocomm sector is expected to see strong growth with an additional 30,000 jobs expected by 2020
• The Government will set aside S$120 million to support training and re-training of infocomm professionals, focusing on high demand areas such as software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, and network & infrastructure
• In order to ensure a steady pipeline of talents in the infocomm sector, the Government will launch an Industry Preparation for Pre-Graduates (iPREP) Programme for infocomm graduates to build up their portfolios, skills and experience
• The Company-Led Training (CLT) programme, which the Government co-funds with industry partners, will be expanded to include more than a 1,000 ICT professionals, up from 160 today
• Mid-level professionals will be able to benefit from local and overseas training to build expertise and competencies in demand areas such as cyber-security and analytics
• The Critical Infocomm Technology Resource Programme (CITREP), which currently helps about 3,000 mid-level professionals broaden or deepen their skills through short courses, will be expanded to help entry level professionals acquire ICT skills and professional certifications early in their career
• The TechSkills Accelerator, a new skills development and job placement hub, will be developed into the flagship platform for Singapore ICT professionals to receive training and career advice
• The Government will provide space, through the Creators’ Space at the Pixel Building in one-north, for collaboration and digital content creation
• Story-telling and content production skills will be deepened by:
  *Introducing the Story Lab initiative whichwill enhance the creative capacity of our media industry to develop compelling story ideas, and innovative story-telling
  *Launching of the WritersLab which will hone scriptwriting for television
  *Relocating The Games Solution Centre, which supports game developers in Singapore, within Creators’ Space
• The Government will give out more than 300 SkillsFuture Awards by April 2017 to defray out-of-pocket expenses by up to S$5,000 for Singaporeans aspiring to enter the infocomm media and design sectors

Cybersecurity

• The Cyber Security Agency (CSA) formed in 2015 has made good progress: successfully conducted Exercise Cyber Star which demonstrated CSA’s ability to mobilise resources and experts from across multiple sectors to address a crisis
• A standalone Cyber Security Act will be tabled in the second quarter of 2017 to provide stronger and more proactive powers for agencies secure critical information infrastructure, manage cyber incidents, and raise the standards of cybersecurity providers in Singapore

A Smart Nation of Opportunities

• To make Smart Nation a reality, the Government will:
  *Build first class infrastructure for pervasive, seamless and high speed connectivity for our citizens and businesses
  *Lead in the use of technology for its daily operations
  *Nurture a larger research and innovation ecosystem that can build new solutions to create and capture new value
• A Smart Nation Platform will also be developed to provide government agencies with a shared platform that allows collection, sharing and analysis of different types of data
  *First phase is already under way, covering high traffic areas in the city and some HDB estates such as Yuhua in Jurong
• A Smart Systems Strategic Research Programme (SS SRP) will be launched this month to support the development of citizen-centric digital technologies, and build expertise in platform technologies, such as sensor communication or cyber-physical security, that will allow for innovative solutions in many different fields and businesses
• The Government will also look into disruptive technologies and leverage these technologies to benefit Government, private enterprises and citizens
• To attract Singaporean infocomm talents to Government, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) launched the Smart Nation Fellowship Programme in March 2016
• Wireless@SG will be enhanced by:
  *Doubling the number of hotspots from 10,000 to 20,000 by 2018
  *Increasing its speed from 2Mbps to 5Mbps
  *Allowing operators can to tap on its greater connectivity to offer services such as cashless payment, targeted advertising, and location-based analytics
• IDA’s Home Access and Silver Infocomm programmes have been successful in increasing digital inclusivity by connecting more than 28,000 low-income households since 2006
• To extend digital inclusivity to the disabled, IDA has worked with SG Enable to set up a Tech Able facility in the Enabling Village in Lengkok Bahru

Enhancing Government Communications

• Government will transform the 3Cs of Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) – Content, Capabilities and Channels – to producing quality programmes that tell the Singapore story from a Singaporean perspective, with a Singaporean heart.
• Keeping up with media convergence and shifting consumer viewing trends, MCI will embark on a review of Public Service Broadcasting, to ensure that our public service broadcasters are equipped to produce good quality local content for Singaporeans
• For the Government to ensure effective communication with the public, it will continue to focus on relatable and emotional content, and explore new platforms and channels to reach out to the public
• Even as the Government goes digital, face-to-face interactions will remain a key part of government communications to complement online efforts

National Reading Movement

• The National Library Board (NLB) will launch the National Reading Movement to galvanise Singaporeans into Reading More, Reading Widely, and Reading Together later this year
• The National Reading Movement will be launched through a two-month campaign in June and July this year and focus on reaching out to new audiences, reading more in Mother Tongue languages, and expanding its network of partners on this initiative
• To encourage reading amongst busy working adults, relevant bite-sized content will be curated and pushed out to working adults who are commuting
• A new initiative, Read@Work, will also allow NLB to partner organisations and offer relevant content such as management topics for their staff
• Seniors will be encouraged to read through the setting up of book clubs and reading corners in community-owned centres, including Senior Activity Centres by 2020
• NLB will also encourage the reading of Mother Tongue books by doubling the number of language reading clubs, of all languages, from five to 10 by this year
• NLB will also partner with Lianhe Zaobao and Lianhe Wanbao to encourage more adults to read in Mandarin by creating an interest group in Toa Payoh Library, to discuss current affairs issues of the day
• Groups of Reading Advisors will also be set up by this year to provide expert recommendations on vernacular titles and the NLB’s reading programme