To encourage government agencies’ use of the internet for data exchange and circulation, thus increasing the government’s administration efficiency and ensuring network safety, Taiwan constructed the Government Service Network (GSN) in 1997 to create an overall independent network environment for government agencies, to offer central and local governments a national backbone network as well as multiple basic application services, and to build overall information security. This serves as a common foundation for the development of information systems such as for public service and administrative use. The service provides over 40,000 lines of access and is widely used in central and local government agencies’ email systems, internet connections, disaster prevention and response, and traffic monitoring.

The government also built an electronic certification and security system to form a comprehensive e-government infrastructure. The Government Public Key Infrastructure (GPKI), along with the trust anchor, Government Root Certification Authority (GRCA), and subordinate certification authorities (subordinate CA), including the Government Certificate Authority (GCA), Ministry of the Interior Certificate Authority (MOICA), Ministry of Economic Affairs Certificate Authority (MOEACA), Mixed Organization Certification Authority (XCA), and Healthcare Certificate Authority (HCA) set up by government agencies, was built according to the ITU-T X.509 standard for hierarchical public key infrastructures. The certificates issued by the system are used in various government functions to provide more convenient online public services, enhance administration efficiency, and stimulate the development of e-commerce applications.