ZAMBOANGA CITY—Key officials and private-sector players in the field of information and communications technology (ICT) in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) have recently agreed to heighten promotion of the use of wireless technology as an innovative step in enhancing BIMP-Eaga’s relevance in the global market during the 3rd BIMP-Eaga Telecommunications Meeting held in Brunei.

An official of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) who heads the Philippine delegation to the meeting said the members of the BIMP-Eaga Working Group on ICT agreed to continue promoting the use of wireless-technology networks like WiFi and WiMax, particularly in addressing connectivity issues in rural areas.

NTC-9 regional director Edgardo Celorico, who heads the Philippine delegation, disclosed the group also agreed to continue to discuss mechanisms on how this technology will be regionally adopted in the growth area in succeeding cluster meetings.

WiFi and WiMax are broadband- access technologies which are already being used in many countries, including the Philippines.

The four member-countries also agreed to work on developing and implementing the Next Generation Network (NGN) by conducting a case study in BIMP-Eaga.

NGN technologies, like the use of voice-over Internet protocol, are already being adopted by local telecommunications companies in the four countries.

“Promoting the use of wireless technology, such as WiFi and WiMax, will help accelerate the development of ICT in the subregion,” Celorico said.

Celorico, who also chairs the Infrastructure Technical Working Group of the Mindanao ICT task force, said unserved and underserved areas in Mindanao could be covered by this technology.

Brunei Darussalam also strongly supported the initiatives of the Eaga ICT Working Group and urged for the development of innovative ICT applications, adding that ICT is becoming a basic necessity and the “driver and enabler of businesses.”

Brunei Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications Hj. Alaihuddin sees that through the development of innovative ICT that “can truly leverage our local resources and enhance BIMP-Eaga’s relevance in the global market.”

Meanwhile, the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) said   the BIMP-Eaga Working Group on ICT, which was revived last year, also called for the creation of a cluster separate from the Transport and Infrastructure Development Cluster.

MEDCo said the recommendation was noted during the recent Transport, Infrastructure and ICT Development Cluster Meeting, also held here, and will be submitted to BIMP-Eaga senior officials for approval.

Through the creation of a BIMP-Eaga ICT Cluster, member-countries will be able to bring focus to ICT development issues in the subregion and improve coordination and cooperation among ICT players in the subregion. 

Participants of the meeting also visited Brunei Darussalam’s iCenter, an ICT incubation center which aims to mold new generation of technopreneurs (or ICT entrepreneurs) not only in Brunei but also in BIMP-Eaga.

“The world is becoming increasingly interdependent, interconnected and the confluence of competitive forces and the advancement and convergence of infocommunications technology will only serve to increase the rate of business and socioeconomic growth across the globe,” Hj Alaihuddin said.

Addressing digital divide has been one of the priority agenda in mainstreaming ICT as a key strategy in the development of the subregion.

During the 1st BIMP-Eaga ICT Conference in October last year, ICT officials and players of the four countries met to strengthen collaboration in improving ICT in the subregion and addressing regional ICT issues such as connectivity.

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ZAMBOANGA CITY—Key officials and private-sector players in the field of information and communications technology (ICT) in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) have recently agreed to heighten promotion of the use of wireless technology as an innovative step in enhancing BIMP-Eaga’s relevance in the global market during the 3rd BIMP-Eaga Telecommunications Meeting held in Brunei.

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