The government as a platform dimension of the Digital Government Index measures how governments provide clear and transparent guidelines, tools, data, and software that equip them to deliver user-driven, consistent, seamless, and integrated services (OECD, 2020). Contributing to this dimension, digital public infrastructure (DPI) is a set of shared, secure, and interoperable digital systems designed to support broad access to public and private services. DPI is foundational for public service delivery, efficiency and the broader digital economy. DPI components include digital identity, digital payments, data-sharing systems, digital post, notifications and base registries. Governments play a pivotal role in designing, implementing and overseeing DPI, as well as DPI enablers. These comprise frameworks for interoperability, including open-source solutions, metadata management standards, and application programming interfaces (APIs).
Among DPI components, data-sharing systems are the most widely adopted in SEA countries, available in five out of eight countries, followed by digital payments, which are available in four out of eight surveyed countries (Figure 5.8). These two DPI components are also relatively commonly adopted in OECD Member countries, having been adopted by 85% and 55% of OECD countries, respectively. Among other DPI components, digital identity, digital notifications, digital post and base registry frameworks each has been adopted by only two of the eight SEA countries, although the countries adopting them vary. SEA's adoption rates of these DPI components remain lower compared to OECD averages of 42%, 55%, 58%, and 64%, respectively. Among DPI enablers, SEA has an adoption rate of 25% (two out of eight countries) for all items. This is significantly lower than the adoption rate in OECD countries, where interoperability frameworks have been adopted by 91% of countries, followed by API standards (67%), metadata standards (61%) and open-source frameworks (55%).
Singapore is the country in the region that has adopted the most DPI components and enablers, with a total of nine (Figure 5.9). Indonesia follows with seven out of ten components and enablers in place. To move forward in their adoption, SEA countries could consider adopting a strategic and human-centred approach to DPI governance through management and investment frameworks, along with multi-stakeholder collaboration and international digital co-operation, to enhance peer learning (OECD, 2024a).
