Nucleus Connect's CEO Mr David Storrie (left) welcoming RADM(NS) Ronnie Tay.

Singapore recently crossed two key milestones in the rollout of the Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN), with the Network Company (NetCo) OpenNet announcing the launch of wholesale dark fibre services to qualified operators and the Operating Company (OpCo) Nucleus Connect opening its Next Gen NBN Central
Offices (COs).

The deployment of the ultra high-speed optical fibre network began last year, with OpenNet reaching the first home in August 2009. Since then, OpenNet has covered about 30 per cent of all homes and buildings in Singapore and is on track to reach 60 per cent by the end of this year and 95 per cent by 2012.

With the launch of wholesale dark fibre services by OpenNet on 28 April 2010, qualified operators can now obtain fibre connections from the NetCo on a fair and non-discriminatory basis to serve homes, non-residential premises and non-building address points. OpenNet will sell these services on a “per end-user” basis, as well as on a
“per segment” basis.

Separately, Nucleus Connect has obtained approval from the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) to begin offering co-location and patching services to its customers at its COs. Nucleus Connect’s COs house advanced optical network equipment based on Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) and Optical Ethernet (OE) access technologies. Using these technologies, Nucleus Connect will be offering a comprehensive range of wholesale bandwidth services with speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps.

Speaking at the opening of the Nucleus Connect CO on 6 May 2010, RADM(NS) Ronnie Tay, Chief Executive Officer of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, said Retail Service Providers (RSPs) who co-locate at Nucleus Connect’s CO will benefit from being in close proximity to the core of the Next Gen NBN. RSPs can also take advantage of Nucleus Connect’s Interoperability Testing (IOT) service available at Nucleus Connect’s IOT Laboratory located at their COs. The IOT service allows RSPs to test and validate their services over a simulated Next Gen NBN environment.

The launch of the Nucleus Connect Central Office: (from left) IDA Assistant Chief Executive Mr Khoong Hock Yun, Mr David Storrie, RADM(NS) Ronnie Tay and Nucleus Connect Chairman Mr Ernest Wong.

“RSPs can leverage on Nucleus Connect’s facilities to test their service platform offerings ahead of launch, so as to ensure a smooth deployment of services to end-users,” said RADM(NS) Tay.

Nucleus Connect is working very closely with OpenNet and expects to be able to commercially offer wholesale bandwidth services in the second half of this year.

To raise awareness and encourage the early adoption of the Next Gen NBN and the Next Gen services it can support, IDA has launched a series of media publicity activities and is setting up an Infocomm Experience Centre to showcase the possibilities and benefits of Next Gen services through interactive, hands-on exhibits.

IDA is also working closely with grassroots organisations and town councils to help increase awareness and adoption of the Next Gen NBN amongst residents. It will be organising Next Gen NBN showcases at various community events in the coming months, where residents can find out more about how they can sign up for OpenNet’s installation of fibre into their homes.

To check out the installation schedule for your home or office, visit rollout.opennet.com.sg .