Ultrahigh
speed connectivity to cover more than half of Spore by
2012
SINGAPORE: More than half of Singapore homes and offices are
expected to have ultrahigh speed broadband access by 2012.
Thats a requirement of the bid for what is called Singapores Next
Generation National Broadband Network, which was thrown open on
Tuesday.
Ultrahigh speed of up to 1 gigabit per second or 10 times faster
than the maximum speed currently available on broadband.
Thats the connectivity speed the Next Generation National
Broadband Network will have and which the next generation will
certainly appreciate.
Three out of four homes in Singapore already have broadband access,
with an increasing number opting for wider bandwidth.
And, the benefits of this ultrahigh speed network will pervade all
areas of life from online trading to elearning.
"These may include close to reallife highdefinition video
conferencing, highspeed online transactions and graphicsbased
data visualisation. For example, the healthcare sector will be able
to process and share high volume and complex medical data,
including teleradiology and MRI, to provide more timely and better
medical care to patients," said Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for
Information, Communications & The Arts.
The government will provide grants of up to $750 million to the
company or consortium which wins the bid to build the islandwide
infrastructure.
The successful bidder will have to ensure that the ultrahigh speed
network will be available to more than 50% of homes and offices in
Singapore by 2012.
It will also be held to the wholesale prices it sets out in its
bid.
Thats one of the parameters to ensure an open market for what
would be a natural monopoly.
Potential bidders include SingTel, StarHub and M1.
M1 has partnered Hong Kong Broadband Network to bid as a
consortium.
The Next Generation network will be available nationwide by 2015.
CNA/ir
