ICT Infrastructure for e-Government:

– A set of basic services and tools that enables the development and execution of
electronic public services.
– It provides services that are typically used by many e-services.
– It is foundational and its usage spans several agencies.
– A platform for facilitating the interoperability of e-services.

Need of e-Government Infrastructure:

– growing number of offered e-services
– a web of relations emerging between e-services
– more agencies involved,
– more complex services
– increased level of sophistication and interactivity
– more users reached with more devices
– Industry taking over e-service development.

National E-Governance Infrastructure should primarily involve, setting up following

facilities:
– Nationwide Communication Infrastructure/Network Infrastructure
– Computing Infrastructure
– Data Centers
– E-Government Architecture
– Interoperability Framework

Network Infrastructure:
While Communication Infrastructure needs to be setup for government to deliver its
services online, there is an equally important need for setting up nationwide
communication network for citizens to easily access government services whether in the
urban areas or in the rural parts of the country.
Generally, urban parts of the country are already equipped with communication facilities.
Therefore, Government needs to pay more attention to the rural and remote areas of the
country to avoid occurrence of another digital divide
Network Infrastructure is the platform that supports the network. It provides the stable
and reliable channel over which our communications can occur.
The network infrastructure contains three categories of network components:
a. End devices
b. Intermediary devices
c. Network media

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Devices and media are the physical elements, or hardware, of the network. Hardware
comprises the components of the network platform that typically are visible, such as a
laptop, PC, switch, router, wireless access point, or the cabling used to connect the devices.
Occasionally, some network components may not be visible. In the case of wireless media,
for example, messages are transmitted through the air using invisible radio frequency or
infrared waves.
Network components are used to provide services and processes. These services and
processes are the communication programs, called software, that run on the networked
devices. A network service provides information in response to a request. Services include
many of the common network applications people use every day, like email hosting
services and web hosting services. Processes provide the functionality that directs and
moves the messages through the network. Processes are less obvious to us but are critical
to the operation of networks.

a. End Devices
The network devices that people are most familiar with are called end devices, or hosts.
These devices form the interface between users and the underlying communication
network.
Some examples of end devices are
 Computers (work stations, laptops, file servers, web servers)
 Network printers
 VoIP phones
 Tele-Presence endpoints
 Security cameras
 Mobile handheld devices (such as smart phones, tablets, PDAs, and wireless
debit/credit card readers and barcode scanners)
A host device is either the source or destination of a message transmitted over the
network. In order to distinguish one host from another, each host on a network is identified
by an address. When a host initiates communication, it uses the address of the destination
host to specify where the message should be sent.
In modern networks, a host can act as a client, a server, or both. Software installed on the
host determines which role it plays on the network. Servers are hosts that have software
installed that enables them to provide information and services, like email or web pages, to
other hosts on the network. Clients are hosts that have software installed that enables them
to request and display the information obtained from the server.

b. Intermediary Devices
Intermediary devices interconnect end devices. These devices provide connectivity and
work behind the scenes to ensure that data flows across the network. Intermediary devices

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connect the individual hosts to the network and can connect multiple individual networks
to form an internetwork.
Examples of intermediary network devices are
 Network access devices (switches and wireless access points)
 Internetworking devices (routers)
 Security devices (firewalls)
The management of data as it flows through the network is also a role of the intermediary
devices. These devices use the destination host address, in conjunction with information
about the network interconnections, to determine the path that messages should take
through the network.
Processes running on the intermediary network devices perform these functions:
 Regenerate and retransmit data signals
 Maintain information about which pathways exist through the network and
internetwork
 Notify other devices of errors and communication failures
 Direct data along alternate pathways when there is a link failure
 Classify and direct messages
 Permit or deny the flow of data, based on security settings

c. Network Media
Communication across a network is carried on a medium. The medium provides the
channel over which the message travels from source to destination.
Modern networks primarily use the following three types of media to interconnect devices
and to provide the pathway over which data can be transmitted:
 Metallic wires within cables
 Glass or plastic fibers (fiber-optic cable)
 Wireless transmission
The signal encoding that must occur for the message to be transmitted is different for each
media type. On metallic wires, the data is encoded into electrical impulses that match
specific patterns. Fiber-optic transmissions rely on pulses of light, within either infrared or
visible light ranges. In wireless transmission, patterns of electromagnetic waves depict the
various bit values.
Different types of network media have different features and benefits. Not all network
media types have the same characteristics or are appropriate for the same purpose. The
criteria for choosing network media are
 The distance the media can successfully carry a signal
 The environment in which the media is to be installed
 The amount of data and the speed at which it must be transmitted
 The cost of the media and installation

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Computing Infrastructure:
Computing Infrastructure is another important dimension of National e-Government
Infrastructure.
While on one end, government needs large computing infrastructure to develop and deliver
e-government services on continuous basis, infrastructure is also needed at the end of
citizens to derive the benefits of these services.
Computing Infrastructure refers to the composite hardware, software, network resources
and services required for the existence, operation and management of an enterprise IT
environment. It allows an organization to deliver IT solutions and services to its employees,
partners and/or customers and is usually internal to an organization and deployed within
owned facilities.
Typically, a standard Computing Infrastructure consists of the following components:
 Hardware: Servers, computers, data centers, switches, hubs and routers, etc.
 Software: Enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management
(CRM), productivity applications and more.
 Network: Network enablement, Internet connectivity, firewall and security.
 Meatware: Human users, such as network administrators (NA), developers,
designers and generic end users with access to any IT appliance or service are also
part of an IT infrastructure, specifically with the advent of user-centric IT service
development.

Data Centers:
– In the era of e-governance, government is expected to deliver its services to the citizens
on 24*7 basis. To achieve this, the government has to set up a sound and stable
infrastructure operational round the clock.
– Internet Data Centre is a facility which provides extremely reliable and secure
infrastructure for running Internet operations on a 24*7 basis. It shall not at all be cost
effective if each department starts setting up its own data centre as running a high class
Internet Data Centre needs a lot of recurring resources.
– It is, therefore, suggested that the government may set up a high grade Data Centre at a
National level to be used by all entities of the government.
– All departments should, in turn, establish high speed connectivity with the data center
so that they can manage their applications from their own premises in a secured
manner.
– In cases where the country is large and the government feels that one Internet Data
Centre may not suffice, it could decide to set up multiple Data Centers.
– However, the number of data centers should be optimized to the extent possible
primarily due to the high recurring operative costs as well as scarcity of skilled
resources.

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– It is suggested that the decision to set up a data center should be driven by demand and
not by political or geographical boundaries within the country.
– As the pace of e-government picks up nationwide, besides delivery of services,
Government may also have to set up data centers to share the large scale/special
purpose resources for development of the systems.

An Internet Data Centre should essentially have the following features:

– High End Computing Infrastructure
– Storage Networks (SAN/ NAS)
– High Speed Local Area Network
– Multi-Tier Security
– High Speed Internet Connectivity
– 24*7*365 Help Desk
– Multi-level Redundant power back-up
– Air Conditioning Management
– Fire Detection & Control System

E-government Architecture Framework:

Or

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E-government Architecture generally consists of three components : Services Architecture,
Process Architecture and Data Architecture
Services Architecture:
 Describes the whole lot of services offered by the Government, processes to be
followed for each service, Concerned Department(s), relation/dependence on other
services etc. Services could be like Vehicle Registration, Passport Issuance, Caste
Certificate, Payment of Tax, etc.
Process Architecture:
 Lists the various processes to be followed for rendering different services,
independent of their association with one or more services.
 These processes are then further grouped in various categories and detailed
rules/procedures are defined for executing each of the processes.
 This brings a lot of standardization across services and promotes interoperability as
well as reuse of process components.
 Processes could be Content Management, Citizen Registration, Personalization,
Online Form Submission, Electronic Payment etc.
Data Architecture:
 Deals with the data associated with various Government Services, as described in
service architecture.
 In Data Architecture, we enlist all the data elements needed/associated with above
service and then define metadata about each data element.
 This metadata information includes the standard Nomenclature for each data
elements, their type, size, format, default value, valid value range, owner etc.

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  Use of such a standard definition by all government applications shall facilitate
interoperability among various applications as well their integration which shall go
long way in delivery of integrated/ one stop services to the citizens and businesses.

E-Government Architecture of Nepal

All the eService’s and electronic information in Nepal will be delivered via a comprehensive
integration service delivery platform ―National e-Service Delivery Gateway‖ which
services as the gateway for electronic information exchange and interactions in Nepal.
Government eService Provider typically back-end ministry / departments / government
agencies will put up its service be it G2C, G2B, G2E or G2G for electronic delivery through
the National eService Delivery Gateway. All the government and public e-Services
(electronic Services) will be compliant with the GEA specifications.
The National eService Delivery Gateway & National Portal of Nepal will serve as the
Service Access Provider that will provide the infrastructure to facilitate government
service access by the Service Seekers. Linked to the Service Access Providers will be the
delivery channels, which would be the access mechanism for the citizens and businesses to
avail the e-governance services.
The Nepal National Portal will act as the single window one-stop store for the delivery of
Govt. G2C, G2B & G2E eServices. E-Service Seekers typically citizens, business,
government employee & tele-center users can avail these service by logging into the
national portal and filling & submitting the service request forms online.

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Interoperability Framework:
Interoperability is defined as system ability to share and integrate information and work
processes using a set of standards. One solution to the interoperability problem is using
Grid technology. Open grid services aim for the integration of services across distributed
and heterogeneous virtual organizations with disparate resources and relationships.
Data and information integration is important among government agencies. It needs to
formulate methods and technology of collaboration. The requirements of a broader and
comprehensive data interaction among government agencies, especially in the use of data
and information together should be encouraged.
Interoperability concepts and strategies are crucial agenda of the national e-Government
development to achieve integrated, safe and efficient utilization of data and information.
Interoperability in e-Governance is defined as “the ability of different systems from various
stakeholders of e-Governance to work together, by communicating, interpreting and
exchanging the information in a meaningful way”. The interactions between all stake-
holders are achieved, by sharing of information and knowledge through the business
processes they support.
There are three primary goals associated with achieving interoperability in any system
(computer or otherwise) i.e.
– Data exchange through Infrastructure and Software (Technical ability of software /
hardware used by different systems to exchange data through common data exchange
protocols, development of software necessary for management of data connections,
creation of user interfaces in order to enable communication between different
organizations).
– Meaning exchange (Ability of different systems / organization’s to understand
exchanged data in same way through a mechanism allowing the presentation of service
data and data definitions).
– Process agreement (Ability of organization’s to provide services to other
organization’s or their clients; It ensures services agreements and their legalization).

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Government Integrated Data Center(GIDC):
– The concept of GIDC was first envisioned in the national e-Government master plan
(eGMP) developed by NITC[National Information Technology Center] and HLCIT[High
Level Commission for Information Technology] with support from Korean IT Industry
Promotion Agency (KIPA), which also defined the practical vision of national e-
Government including various aspects like e-Government framework, architectures,
infrastructure, organizational structure, implementation plan etc.
– Then Government of Nepal requested KOICA [Korea International Cooperation Agency]
for the construction of GIDC and MOU [memorandum of understanding] was signed in
September 19, 2007 between Government of Nepal and Republic of Korea for the
construction of GIDC.
– The construction of GIDC was completed and handed over to NITC in March 11, 2009.
– Currently NITC is managing and operating the GIDC.

Objectives:
– Improve the IT infrastructure for e-Government by advancing GIDC in Kathmandu
– Provide the basis for Integrated Application Administration of e-Government Portal, e-
Administration etc. through the construction of GIDC.
– Acquire ICT human resources and ICT competitiveness through the construction of ICT
training facilities.
– Contribute to narrowing the digital divide and enhance the ICT
cooperation between Nepal and Korea.

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GIDC Construction:
• Land Area : 2,034.76㎡
• Construction Area : 1,070.50 ㎡
• Aggregate Site Area : 1,601.50 ㎡
• Construction : 2 floors, 15 parking space

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– Un-interruptible Power Distribution:
o Electricity Distribution System,
o UPS Battery,
o Emergency Lighting Grounding
– Air-Circulation System
o Temperature & Humidity Control System , Air-Conditioning (and heating)
– Security
o Trespassing Management System
o CCTV
– Integrated Control System
o Integrated Real Time Monitoring
o FMS (Facility Management System)
– Fire-Fighting
o FM-200
o Self-Sensing System
– Self-Generating System
o Digital Control Type Generator (380/220V 50Hz, 400KW)

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 – Network: Router Backbone Switch etc.
– Network Management System: Integrated Network Management System
– Server Management System: integrated Server Management System
– Integrated Storage: Integrated Storage, MSA 1500 16TB
– Integrated Back-Up: Integrated Back-up,10TB
– Security: Check Point Integrated UTM GW, Spam/Virus mail Prevention

Features of GIDC:
– High End Computing Infrastructure
– Storage Networks (SAN)
– High Speed Local Area Network
– Multi-Tier Security
– High Speed Internet Connectivity
– 24*7*365 Help Desk
– Multi level redundant power back-up
– Air Conditioning Management
– Fire Detection & Control System

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