Broadband network delivers advantages

Business Asia, Nov 2, 1998

100 times faster than analog modem dial-up

During a recent visit to Singapore, Microsoft chairman Mr Bill Gates declared that among all the countries of the world, "Singapore is the leader in developing the infrastructure for what I call the `digital nervous system' and the `Web lifestyle' ".

Mr Gates was referring to the rapid development of the island's total high-tech infrastructure.

The most important and impressive element of Singapore's drive into the future is Singapore ONE (One Network for Everyone). This nation-wide broadband network delivers leading-edge interactive and multi-media applications and services about 100 times faster than traditional analog modem dial-up.

In June, Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong announced that Singapore ONE had successfully completed a one-year pilot program and would soon be commercially launched.

Mr Michael Yap, deputy chief executive of the National Computer Board (NCB), the agency that spearheads the project, said "all schools, the majority of public libraries and some community centres and clubs in Singapore are able to access Singapore ONE".

Furthermore, 90 per cent of Singapore homes that would like a connection to Singapore ONE can get it immediately.

The government's aim is to have more than 100,000 local users on-line by the end of next year and 400,000 by 2001.

Meanwhile, the NCB says that "good progress" has been made in rousing interest in the program overseas. For instance, seleced content from Singapore ONE is now available to some 100,000 users on the @Home Network, a cable modem channel based in North America.

However, Singapore ONE has always been about more than connections, according to Mr Yap.

"It is about bringing compelling multi-media applications and contents to the people," he said.

Services currently available on Singapore ONE include entertainment and news on demand, distance learning, on-line shopping and banking, events ticketing, and video-conferencing.

Mr Stephen Yeo, chief executive of the NCB, said that in addition to adding more services, there were plans to make it easier to use Singapore ONE through the introduction of user-friendly devices such as voice input, handwriting recognition and Internet television.

"Users can definitely expect to enhance their quality of life through Singapore ONE," he said.

To further boost the development of services and applications, the government provides financial assistance programs covering research and development of broadband technology as well as innovative IT applications.

Meanwhile, the government has established a fund worth S$50 million (US$29.83 million) through NCB and the Singapore Federation of the Computer Industry (SFCI) to invest in multi-media and information technology start-ups.