e-Government

ST Electronics networks the Maldives

ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems) Pte Ltd is providing an infocommunication network that will connect the Maldives Government and related agencies in Malé and 23 other islands. This initiative is in line with the Maldives Government's pursuit of making the government and its agencies more efficient and transparent, while delivering public services to its people through state-of-the-art infocommunication technologies.

This new Government Network of Maldives (GNM) deploys fiber, ADSL and satellite network technologies, enabling the agencies to:

Link Government Offices & Public Agencies

The broadband infrastructure will link all government offices, schools, hospitals and other government-related organisations across 24 islands.

Share Information Electronically

The network will provide access to common applications and services, as well as allow the public to access government information and services through the Internet and other avenues.

Communicate Securely

Security is of paramount importance for communications in a government network. Various security measures are in place to ensure the protection of data communicated between government offices as well as the network infrastructure.

Enjoy Minimal Disruption to Services

The design of the infrastructure takes into account business continuity thus minimising any impact of disruption to services should a sub-system fail.

The GNM network infrastructure is made up of the following five main elements:

Metropolitan Area Network

— built over Ethernet and DSL technologies, it comprises two networks, the Ethernet network and the ADSL facilities network.

Islands Access Network

— a hub-based VSAT (very small aperture terminal) Star Network that supports IP based applications and provides IP data links for the remote islands over the VSAT links.

Federating Core

— the core router and firewall elements in the Government Network that consists of a pair of high-performance and high-availability carrier class security systems.

Internet Access Facilities Network

— designed with multi-home load sharing, it is connected to multi ISPs for redundant and load-sharing Internet access.

NCIT (National Centre for Information Technology) Network

— for supervision, monitoring, commissioning and trouble-shooting of the GNM.

ST Electronics is designing, integrating and implementing the infocommunication network by installing the network systems for connection of the islands, the distribution networks for the connection of sites within the islands, and secured access to the Internet. Its responsibilities include project management, global engineering design, equipment supply and installation, fiber laying and termination, testing and network validation, commissioning, warranty and maintenance.