Applications where users of fibre broadband services can see tangible benefits include watching and downloading video content as well as online gaming.

Series on Next Gen NBN adoption

Awareness of optical fibre technology is starting to drive demand in Singapore. According to the findings of a Fibre Index study commissioned by OpenNet, interest in the use of fibre broadband has been growing, with Internet surfing, email and social networking among the most popular online activities.

“Requests for optical fibre broadband connections have been gaining pace since the PC Show in June 2011,” said Mr Daniel Ho, Director of Business Development and Communications from OpenNet, which is responsible for building, managing and operating Singapore’s Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN).

The Next Gen NBN is designed to be an ultra-high bandwidth, resilient and scalable state-of-the-art optical fibre network that is capable of delivering speeds of 1 Gbps and above to homes, offices and premises around Singapore. OpenNet’s official figures reveal that there are currently more than 100,000 residential optical fibre broadband users, with an average of over 10,000 broadband users signing up for optical fibre broadband services per month since June 2011.

According to the Fibre Index survey carried out by Synovate (now Ipsos), consumer awareness of optical fibre broadband grew from 41 per cent of respondents in April 2010 to 77 per cent in July 2011. The study also revealed that Singaporeans are willing to pay S$40-$50 monthly for a fibre broadband plan, and recent promotions from service providers have reached this ideal price range.

Commenting on the results, Mr Ho said, “This jump is assumed to be partly due to robust marketing from service providers, supported by growth in OpenNet’s optical fibre network, which now extends to more than 80 per cent coverage.”

The Fibre Index survey also showed that the most common applications used by home Internet users are Internet surfing (92 per cent) and email (87 per cent). Other popular online activities include social networking (81 per cent), watching video/TV online (71 per cent), and online banking (60 per cent).

While early adoption of the Next Gen NBN is encouraging, the Fibre Index survey highlights the need to better communicate the benefits of fibre optic broadband. “OpenNet and the industry must continue to promote the benefits of fibre broadband over traditional broadband services using ADSL and Cable. Relevant content and applications will also help to drive adoption,” said Mr Ho.

Applications where users of fibre broadband services can see tangible benefits include watching and downloading video content as well as online gaming. “As one-third of all Internet users engage in online gaming at home, an enhanced gaming experience enabled by Next Gen NBN is likely to be a significant pull factor towards optical fibre broadband adoption. This group of users benefits greatly from the increased speed enabled by fibre connections,” said Mr Ho.

In his view, the Fibre Index survey paints a positive future for fibre broadband usage in Singapore. “As new applications require more and more bandwidth, we expect that interest in optical fibre broadband speeds will continue to grow in the coming months,” he said.