The Next Gen NBN will be capable of ultra high speeds of symmetric 1Gbps or more, with initial provisioning of 100 Mbps.

IDA has issued a call for an Expressions of Interest (EOI) to gather and assess Retail Service Providers' (RSPs) interest in deploying services on the Next Generation National Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN) and to obtain inputs about feasible Next Gen NBN Services that could be developed.

The Next Gen NBN is one of two components of Singapore's Next Generation National Infocomm Infrastructure (Next Gen NII), the other being the pervasive Wireless Broadband Network. It will be capable of ultra high speeds of symmetric 1Gbps or more, with initial provisioning of 100 Mbps.

According to Mr Khoong Hock Yun, Assistant Chief Executive, Infrastructure Development Group, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, the Next Gen NII will lead to an increase in competition in the broadband market, and to even more competitive prices for consumers. For businesses, more competitive pricing and faster connectivity translates into lower business costs.

The Next Gen NII also opens the door for players from the entire telecommunications value chain (hardware providers, systems solution integrators, vendors, enablers and content players) to participate in Singapore's enlarged broadband market. They can also develop and test-bed new applications and services, with a view to marketing them to the rest of Asia from Singapore, he added.

As an integral part of the Next Gen NII, the Next Gen NBN will entrench Singapore's Infocomm hub status and open doors to new economic opportunities, business growth and social vibrancy for the country. "The strategic outcome of the Next Gen NBN is to provide an enabler to exploit new economic opportunities through a faster and much higher household and business broadband take-up, leading to greater productivity gains and new possibilities for working, living and learning," said Mr Khoong.

The EOI is open to all RSPs. "By registering your company's interest, IDA will be able to provide you with invitations to our Next Gen NBN industry networking events," said Mr Khoong. The list of EOI registrants will be published on the IDA web site to facilitate industry collaboration and networking.

Mr Khoong also pointed out that registration is entirely voluntary and that registration is not a pre-requisite for providing services on the Next Gen NBN. "The EOI does not construe a commitment by either IDA or the registrant to deploy services on the Next Gen NBN," he said.

RSPs are encouraged to register their interest before 17 September 2007.