Ultra-fast Internet connectivity will soon be real for Singaporeans. In fact, some Singapore residents will see their homes connected to the Next Generation National Broadband Network (
Next Gen NBN
) in less than three months’ time.
The Next Gen NBN is expected to connect 5 per cent of homes and offices in Singapore by September.
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Speaking at the Infocomm Media Business Exchange 2009 (imbX 2009), RADM (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, welcomed the Next Gen NBN, calling it “Singapore’s broadband backbone for the future”.
“The possibilities for Next Generation services are vast and limited only by our imagination,” he said. “IDA and the industry are working together to establish Next Gen Innovation Centres, which will allow major corporations, small enterprises and industry to use Singapore as a test bed for new products, services and business models.”
At a press briefing at imbX 2009, Ms Tan Kah Rhu, Chief Executive Officer of OpenNet, said that confidence in the success of the Next Gen NBN “will not be derailed by a temporary economic setback.”
OpenNet is the Network Company or NetCo selected by the Infocomm Development Authority of SIngapore (IDA) to design, build and operate the passive infrastructure for Singapore's Next Gen NBN. It has started the all-fibre platform rollout, and expects to connect 5 per cent of homes and offices in the republic by September this year. It is on course to achieve 60 percent of roll out by the end of 2010, and 95 percent by end of June 2012.
The Next Gen NBN is a key part of the Next Generation National Infocomm Infrastructure under IDA's iN2015 masterplan to put Singapore on the digital super-highway for super-connectivity. It will give Singapore an open access, faster, fibre network. Current copper technology makes it difficult to provide speeds beyond 100mbps, but optic fibres will be capable of 10 times more bandwidth, with speeds of 1Gbps and beyond per user.
Ms Tan: Confidence in the success of the Next Gen NBN will not be derailed by a temporary economic setback.
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Deployment of the world’s first nationwide all-fibre platform will cause minimal disruption, as the fibre will be laid using existing underlying passive infrastructure assets such as ducts,manholes and exchange buildings. At individual premises, the fine “bend insensitive” fibre will enter through risers and ducts already in the building.
Mrs Tan said letters will be sent out soon to inform residents in parts of MacPherson , Jurong, Middle Road and Geylang that the Next Gen NBN will be arriving at their homes from September 1 onwards. They can arrange for an appointment to connect their homes or buildings for free, as long as it is 15 metres run from the main door (for high-rise residential premises) or gatepost (for landed residential premises).
However, though connected, the Next Gen NBN will not be operational. Users still have to wait for the fibres to be “lighted up”. This will be done by operating companies that will install active equipment and provide wholesale network services over the Next Gen NBN. Nucleus Connect, the appointed Next Gen NBN Operating Company or OpCo. is planning to commence commercial operations in the first quarter of 2010.
OpenNet expects to connect 56,000 homes and 1,000 office buildings by September. Home owners who decline installation will have to pay $220 for high-rise premises and $450 for landed to get connected later.
The company has also set up a website,
www.opennet.com.sg
, to let the public know when their houses are scheduled to be connected. They can also ask to be alerted when the installation date draws near.