2021年亚太地区数字社会报告（英）-44页_2mb

Summary of GSMA Digital Societies in Asia Pacific Report (October 2021)

Core Content

The GSMA's sixth annual report on Digital Societies in Asia Pacific highlights the progress and challenges in the region's digital transformation, emphasizing the role of collaboration in achieving inclusive and resilient digital societies. The report evaluates the development of 11 target countries (Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam) based on five key components: connectivity, digital identity, digital citizenship, digital lifestyle and digital commerce.

The report underscores the importance of a whole-of-government approach (WGA) in driving digital transformation, allowing for more efficient and coordinated efforts across different ministries and sectors. It also highlights the increasing role of the private sector and non-state institutions in supporting and enhancing digital initiatives.

Main Points

• Digital Transformation Acceleration: The pandemic has significantly accelerated the adoption of digital technologies, with a shift to online and digital-first platforms across society. This has led to increased usage of digital services in various aspects of life, including work, education, shopping and healthcare.

• Connectivity:

  • Connectivity is the foundation of digital societies.
  • Singapore leads in connectivity with 100% 3G and 4G coverage and 71% 5G coverage by the end of 2020.
  • South Korea has the highest 5G population coverage at 98%, with 5G accounting for over 25% of mobile connections.
  • Indonesia launched commercial 5G services in 2021, with 7,904 base stations planned by 2022.
  • India and Bangladesh have seen significant growth in 4G coverage, from 73% in 2016 to 99% in 2020 and from 8% to 97% respectively.
  • The transition to 5G is still in early stages, with 4G networks playing a critical role in enabling digital innovations and serving as a bridge to 5G.

• Digital Identity:

  • Digital identity is essential for economic, financial and social development.
  • South Korea remains the top in this category, with a well-established national ID system and the implementation of the Digital Signature Act in 2020.
  • India has a strong national Aadhaar ID system, with 1.31 billion enrolments and over 60 billion authentications since 2009.
  • Singapore has launched its national digital identity platform, SingPass, and introduced biometric facial verification.
  • Thailand is working on legislation to replace physical IDs with digital IDs, leveraging blockchain for secure and self-sovereign identity management.

• Digital Citizenship:

  • Measures the availability and pervasiveness of e-government services.
  • South Korea is the top-ranked country, with a structured e-government strategy and the e-Government 2020 Master Plan.
  • Indonesia has made progress with the Unified Database for Social Protection Programmes, improving transparency and efficiency in delivering social services, especially during the pandemic.

• Digital Lifestyle:

  • Reflects the adoption of smart devices, local content and IoT growth.
  • Singapore, Australia and South Korea lead in digital lifestyle scores.
  • India has a large number of smartphone users, aided by affordable devices like the JioPhone.
  • The pandemic has increased consumer acceptance of digital services and improved attitudes towards digital adoption.
  • Barriers to digital lifestyle include affordability of devices and data, which remains a challenge in emerging and transitional economies.

• Digital Commerce:

  • The report highlights the importance of digital commerce in the region, with 5G and improved logistics networks playing a key role.
  • Digital signatures and online services are also becoming more prevalent, supporting the growth of e-commerce and digital transactions.

Key Considerations for Collaboration

The report identifies five key factors for establishing effective collaborative partnerships:

• Government leadership in driving digital transformation.
• Clarity on shared purpose and objectives to ensure alignment among stakeholders.
• Clear, measurable and mutually beneficial benefits for all parties involved.
• Low entry barriers for new partners to join the digital ecosystem.
• Diverse viewpoints to improve outcomes and decision-making in digital initiatives.

Future Outlook

• The GSMA Intelligence digital society index has been updated to better reflect current trends and future developments.
• The report estimates that over 333 million people in Asia Pacific will start using mobile internet for the first time by 2025.
• 5G expansion is expected to continue, with more countries launching services and adopting new technologies.
• Despite progress, challenges remain, including digital inclusion, affordability, policy fragmentation and digital literacy.

Conclusion

The report concludes that collaboration is essential for the continued progress of digital societies in Asia Pacific. By fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as other non-state actors, governments can better address the challenges of digital transformation and ensure that the benefits of digital technologies are accessible to all. This will be crucial for inclusive growth, economic resilience and social development in the region.