The Executive Yuan's Office of Science and Technology said today that the digital infrastructure component of the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program was formulated from the Digital Nation and Innovative Economic Development Plan (in particular, the initiatives for creating an ultra-broadband network environment) approved November 24 last year by the Executive Yuan, and that that component was fast-tracked using special budget funds.
The government hopes that ultra broadband capabilities will spur the development of innovative digital services while also promoting smart urban-rural development, a civilian internet of things (including air quality monitoring, water resource management, disaster prevention and rescue services), and the cultural and creative content industries. These initiatives will all serve to improve quality of life and stimulate development of the digital economy.
The office also stated that by the year 2025, DIGI+ aims to grow domestic digital economy output value from 2014's NT$3.3 trillion (US$107.63 billion) to NT$6.5 trillion (US$212 billion), which includes growing the flexible digital economy from NT$900 billion (US$29.35 billion) to NT$2.9 trillion (US$94.59 billion). Other DIGI+ goals include increasing broadband speed by a factor of 10, from the current 100 megabits per second to 1 gigabit per second, while promoting digital human rights to ensure digital access for one and all. Past experience has also shown that when provided with sufficient internet bandwidth, the public will develop new digital services, while the World Bank's World Development Report 2016 states that every 10 percent increase in the broadband penetration rate raises gross domestic product by 1.21 percent.
To keep pace with developed countries around the world that are currently promoting the digital economy and digital nation concepts, the special budget for forward-looking infrastructure development is being used to upgrade the digital environment, taking a giant step forward by bringing ultra broadband network capabilities to all of Taiwan.