Information Policy

Hurricane Sandy shows dark side of social media

by Marisol Bello,

The story of Hurricane Sandy unfolded quickly on social media: a poignant photo of soldiers standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, a picture of a giant wave slamming into the Statue of Liberty and a TV report that 3 feet of water flooded the New York Stock Exchange.

None of it was true.

Lithuania: Launch of an updated version of the eGovernment gateway epaslaugos.lt

On 27 September 2012, the updated eGovernment gateway www.epaslaugos.lt was launched.

The updated version of the portal has - among other things - a new look and structure, improved forms of online requests, improved service provision, and a service that monitors the implementation process.

Nigeria: Lagos to concession e-learning centre in December, urges better use of ICT

THE Lagos State government has informed that plans are at advanced stage to concession the newly commissioned e-learning centre by December.

The concessioning, it was revealed, was part of efforts by the state to ensure proper use and functioning of the multi- million-naira edifice, which was commissioned by Governor Babatunde Fashola on July 24.

LTC set to launch Laos’s first 4G network next month

Laos is expected to gain its first Long Term Evolution (LTE) network next month, with Lao Telecommunications Company (LTC) aiming to introduce 4G services during the ninth Asia-Europe Meeting Summit when it is held in Vientiane. According to FutureGov, which cites LTC director general Thongsay Sanexaya, the new LTE network will be made available to citizens in the capital, as well as to those delegates attending the summit, while the mobile network operator is aiming to expand coverage to other unnamed provinces by early next year. It is understood that LTC will use a 4G solution provided by Chinese vendor Huawei for its 4G infrastructure

http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/10/30/ltc-set-to-launch-laoss-first-4g-network-next-month/

Uganda: Government to implement E-government master plan

By Julius Businge

The National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U) has completed the e-government master plan which it handed to the government through the ministry of ICT on Oct. 25.

The report has details about how government plans to use ICT tools like computers and the internet among others to improve service delivery to the people. The report suggests that there will be solutions that will provide for central places where one can access all the information they need from government departments.

“The common man will not need to move to different offices to look for the information they need. They will find it in a central place,” James Saaka, the executive director NITA-U said.

Saaka added the government will provide the funds to support the whole e-government system which will have 25 projects including an Integrated Data Centre and the National Data Bank where government information can be kept and accessed.

The ICT minister Ruhakana Rugunda, said they will carry out feasibility studies in November before actual implementation of the master plan.

The master plan has been designed by officials from the South Korean government and NITA-U.

http://www.independent.co.ug/news/news/6695-government-to-implement-e-government-master-plan-