Category Archives: Press-release

World Summit On The Information Society (WSIS) has declared Bhutan as one of the winners for providing a Data discount scheme for students during the COVID19 pandemic in line with the WSIS action line “ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life”. The other four countries that were awarded a champion project for the same category include Hungary, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

The recognition is the outcome of the WSIS Forum 2021, wherein ITU held a series of workshops and interviews to highlight the efforts put in by countries to combat the adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the event, the Ministry submitted several ICT initiatives undertaken by the country to combat the adverse impact of the pandemic, wherein “Data discount scheme for students during the COVID19 pandemic” was stated as one of the initiatives to facilitate continued education in the country. 

In the WSIS Forum 2022, the ITU and the WSIS Secretariat reviewed the various projects implemented with a focus on the eleven WSIS action lines . Out of 966 projects received by the WSIS, 360 were nominated for the Online Voting, following a comprehensive review by the Expert Group (ITU Focal Points For WSIS Action Lines). More than 1.3 million votes were cast in total against each project submission in which “Data discount scheme for students during the COVID19 pandemic” was among the top five most voted in the category.

The WSIS Prize 2022 Champion recognizes Bhutan’s effort in promoting WSIS values and Sustainable Development Goals (Goals 1, 3 & 4) by contributing to the promotion of education, reduction of poverty, greater inclusivity, as well as to the safety of pupils and students during the Covid-19 pandemic, all with the help of ICTs.

Details of the data discount scheme for student

A data discount scheme for students was provided during the most difficult months of the Coronavirus pandemic when all the educational facilities were closed in Bhutan. With the closure of the schools, universities, libraries, and laboratories, students and pupils were required to continue their academic sessions online. In response to this, the Ministry of Information and Communications in collaboration with Telecom Operators introduced discounted data schemes to enable all the students and pupils to access online learning. This initiative contributed to greater inclusivity, reduced poverty, as well as increased confidence in the use of ICTs.

The Ministry acknowledges the generous support received from the two Telecom Operators (Bhutan Telecom Ltd. and Tashi InfoComm Ltd.) in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in education, especially for enabling the marginalized children to continue learning.

WSIS Forum 

The WSIS Forum represents the world’s largest annual gathering of ICT for the development community. The Forum is co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD, in close collaboration with all WSIS Action Line Facilitators/co-facilitators. The goal of WSIS is to achieve a common vision, desire, and commitment to building a people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented information society where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information.

Read More : WSIS website             

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A Cybersecurity Leadership program targeting senior leadership and officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan  (RGoB) began on the 6th of January 2022. It is supported by the Temasek Foundation and organized and implemented by the Nanyang Polytechnic International, Singapore. The program consists of a total of five 2-hour sessions spread over several weeks and is attended by 30 senior officials from across the RGoB and set to conclude on 20th January, 2022.

As Digital Transformation becomes more mainstream in Bhutan with increasing access to digital devices and high speed connectivity, the cybersecurity threat landscape is also growing and evolving. Awareness of Cybersecurity threats and challenges at the leadership level is therefore very critical. The question organizations across the RGOB face today is not ‘if’ a cyberattack will happen, but ‘when’. The degree of financial loss and reputational damage from a major cyberattack can be severe and the loss of faith in digital government an even bigger risk for Bhutan. All our senior leadership need to ask — “Are we sufficiently prepared to respond and manage a large-scale cyberattack?”.

In addition to equipping the leaders with knowledge on the global trends on Cybersecurity threats and challenges, the program include; introduction to the Singapore Cybersecurity Strategy, a sharing by a Chief Information Security Officer from a public agency on how cybersecurity can be managed in a public agency, sharing by an Industry speaker on cases of data breaches and the importance of data security, and sharing on the importance of cybersecurity manpower building and introduction to the Singapore’s skills framework on security. Therefore, speakers from relevant public agencies and industry from Singapore will be presenting valuable cybersecurity experiences and sharing valuable insights, issues and best practices.

The Department of IT and Telecom would like to take this opportunity to thank the Temasek Foundation, NanYang Polytechnic International (NYPi) and the Government of Singapore for supporting and organizing this important program.

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Press Release:This is a vital cornerstone for Bhutan as we embark on a journey to effectively use technology to transform the way that the RGoB delivers services while transforming the lives of our citizens. One of the key requirements for delivering services is the need to verify the identity of applicants. Since we are unable to do this securely, some vital services like opening bank accounts, selling land, and similar important services, still require face to face interactions.

To digitally transform such services requires the secure and efficient verification of the applicant’s identity. This is currently not possible online, but what we are initiating today will help set up the foundational data required to enable this. The biometric data collected through this project will strengthen the root of trust Identity database and enhance it to be used for remote on boarding of “Digital Identities”. This will set the foundations to enable the transformation of those vital services into easy to use, but at the same time, trustworthy online services.

Unlike face to face delivery of services, in online services, the service provider and the consumer cannot see each other thus making providing online services extremely challenging as the identity of the applicant cannot be ascertained. The biometric data captured through this initiative will enable us to link our identities to our digital avatar thus enabling us to securely authenticate the applicants identity which will open up vast opportunities in how the government can easily provision services for citizens.

It has thus become critical for us to leverage technology for optimizing government functions and providing effective online services for our citizens as envisioned by His Majesty and Digital Identity will play a key role in enabling this transformation.

The followings are the key activities undertaken and expected to be taken up hereafter:

1. The Biometric Data collection was initiated in collaboration with the Department of IT & Telecom, Department of Civil Registration & Census, Department of Immigration and De-Suung Office for the National Digital Identity.
2. The total number of citizens’ biometrics data collected as of 14th September 2021 is 25,333 during the pilot project and the extended pilot starting from 6th April, 2021.
3. The program would begin from the urban centers so as to ensure that the biometric collection program does not clash with the upcoming Local Government Election.
4. 130 De-Suups are deployed for this project, where teams of 9 to 12 De-Suups will be deployed to each Dzongkhag. They will be supported by the Dzongkhag Civil Registration & Census officers who will be the Dzongkhag co-ordinator for their respective Dzongkhags.
5. The nationwide rollout is scheduled to start simultaneously in 11 Dzongkhags namely Bumthang, Chukha, Gasa, Haa, Mongar, Pemagatshel, Punakha, Thimphu, Trashigang, Wangdue Phodrang and Zhemgang with the launching of the program coinciding with the 10th Anniversary of Their Majesty’s Wedding.

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A virtual signing ceremony was held today at the conference hall of the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) to sign the Implementing Arrangement (IA) to jointly develop a small satellite for Bhutan.

The IA was signed by Mr. Jigme Tenzing, Director, Department of Information Technology and Telecom (DITT), Royal Government of Bhutan and Shri R. Umamaheshwaram, Scientific Secretary, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). 

In accordance with the IA, the DITT and ISRO will cooperate on the development of a joint satellite to be launched sometime towards the end of this year. This is in line with the MoU signed on 19th November 2020 between Bhutan and India on Collaboration in Peaceful Uses of Outer Space under the purview of the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC). 

The event was graced by H.E. Ambassador Ruchira Khamboj, Ambassador of India to Bhutan, Dasho Phuntsho Tobgay, Secretary, MoIC, Ambassador Pema Choden, Officiating Foreign Secretary and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MoIC. Bhutan’s Ambassador to India, H.E. Ambassador Major General Vetsop Namgyel, senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, GoI and the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi also attended the event through Video Conferencing. 

The Hon’ble Minister, MoIC highlighted the Royal Vision of His Majesty The King to harness space technology and its applications for the benefit of the country, and to use space related activities to create a greater sense of interest and passion in the students for science, technology and innovation, also adding that this partnership will help elevate Bhutan’s space ambitions to great heights. 

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