To create a pro-consumer and pro-business infocomm environment, IDA formulates infocomm-related policies, standards, codes of practice and advisory guidelines aimed at leveling the playing field for infocomm service providers and empowering consumers and businesses with more choices.

IDA plays an active role in developing Singapore’s pool of globally-competitive infocomm talent and an infocomm-savvy workforce. We are also focused on driving consumer education initiatives, ensuring digital inclusion and supporting the effective use of infocomm in community outreach efforts.

Overview

IDA drives the growth, competitiveness and innovation of Singapore’s infocomm industry by nurturing local infocomm enterprises and supporting them in their internationalisation efforts. We also seek to inject greater vibrancy into the infocomm ecosystem by attracting world-class global infocomm MNCs and startups to hub in Singapore.

Telecommunication Industry Working Groups

IDA recognises that industry co-operation and self-regulation will become increasingly important in a competitive multi-operator multi-network environment after full liberalisation, and believes that inter-operator technical and operational issues are best dealt with by the industry players who have the necessary technical or operational expertise. In line with this, it has formed Industry Working Groups for the telecommunications industry to address various inter-operator technical and operational issues.

The WGs are namely the Inter-operator Short Messaging Service (SMS) WG, the Integrated Printed Directory and Directory Enquiry Services WG (DQWG) ¹ and the DEL/1800/1900 Number Portability WG.

Participation in the Working Groups

Participation in the Industry WGs is generally open to operators who have an interest in the Industry WGs issues and are relevant to their operations. More Industry WGs may be formed in future where IDA or the operators initiate issues which require review and discussion.

An operator who wishes to participate in an Industry Working Group, or initiate a new issue for review and discussion, may contact the Industry Working Group co-ordinators:

Mr Lim Hsueh Wei
Senior Manager, Interconnection and Access
IDA Singapore
Email: [email protected]

Mr See Chee Cheng
Assistant Manager, Interconnection and Access
IDA Singapore
Email: [email protected]

¹ The DQWG was subsequently subdivided into 2 WGs, called the Integrated Printed Directory WG (IPDWG) and Directory Enquiry Services WG (DEWG) as the operators felt that the issues relating to provisioning of integrated printed directory and directory enquiry services could be dealt with separately.

Industry Working Groups

Number Portability Working Group

The Number Portability Working Group addresses the inter-operator technical and operational arrangements for implementing fixed-line number portability in a multi-operator environment. By encouraging intra-industry communication and a common platform for discussion, IDA aims to pre-empt and resolve potential issues and challenges with respect to inter-operator arrangements.
The Directory Enquiry Working Group

The Directory Enquiry Working Group was established to formalise and document the ITU-T E115 specifications for implementation of directory enquiry system access between operators. The specifications will provide the necessary reference to new operators for implementation of directory enquiry services based on E115
The Integrated Printed Directory Working Group

Integrated Printed Directory Working Group was established to formalise and document the procedures governing the printing of integrated directory for fixed line operators.
The Inter-operator Short Messaging Services Working Group

The Inter-operator Short Messaging Services Working Group addresses inter-operability and reliability issues of inter-operator SMS arising from increasing volume of SMS traffic and customers complaints on the quality of service. The SMSWG will review the feasibility and robustness of the technical and operational arrangements between the mobile cellular operators for inter-operator SMS.
Mobile Number Portability Working Group

The Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Working Group addresses number portability issues relating to SMS and 3G services. Examples include concerns over the inability to send SMSes to ported numbers and, for 3G services, issues such as inter-operator notification, activation and fault restoration procedures to ensure transparent and seamless MNP implementation.