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<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=452><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Published July 3, 2010
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Only 50% keen on fibre-optic connection
Lack of awareness cited as a key reason for homeowners declining OpenNet's offer
By WINSTON CHAI
SINGAPORE'S ambition to have ubiquitous high-speed broadband connectivity could end up being only half-fulfilled - 50 per cent of households here are saying no to the country's new fibre- optic connection.
<TABLE class=picBoxL cellSpacing=2 width=100 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR class=caption><TD>MR KHOONG
Singapore is faring better than fibre-optic pioneers such as South Korea and Japan when they first rolled out similar projects</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The Nationwide Broadband Network (NBN) - a fibre-optic digital highway capable of boosting Internet access speeds 10 times or more - is now being deployed by a company called OpenNet.
The company - a joint venture by Singapore Telecom, Canada's Axia Netmedia, Singapore Press Holdings and SP Telecom - has cabled about 35 per cent of households here so far.
But within the estates that have been approached by OpenNet, only half of the residents have taken up its offer, a company spokesman told BT.
Except for those living in larger apartments or landed properties, most homeowners will get their fibre-optic connection free if they say yes to OpenNet's initial roll-out. Those who turn down the company's first-time offer may have to pay $220 to $450 to wire up in future.
Services such as high-definition Internet TV, tele-medicine and ultra-fast broadband packages are expected to make their debut this year as the new network becomes progressively operational.
Without the fibre-optic link, residents will not be able to subscribe to these services. And companies will also have less incentive to introduce them if the NBN is not pervasive.
Uncertainty over future broadband prices, ambiguity over the benefits of the NBN and contractual lock-in for current Internet packages are among the reasons residents have cited for turning down the offer, the OpenNet spokesman said.
Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) assistant chief executive Khoong Hock Yun earlier told BT that lack of awareness is a key reason for declining OpenNet's offer.
While a higher figure would have been more desirable, he said Singapore is faring better than fibre-optic pioneers such as South Korea and Japan when they first rolled out similar projects.
To spur take-up, IDA has launched a national educational campaign on the new network and its benefits. Last month it opened a showroom at Esplanade Xchange to give Singaporeans a glimpse of what high-speed broadband connectivity can bring to homes and businesses.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Only 50% keen on fibre-optic connection
Lack of awareness cited as a key reason for homeowners declining OpenNet's offer
By WINSTON CHAI
SINGAPORE'S ambition to have ubiquitous high-speed broadband connectivity could end up being only half-fulfilled - 50 per cent of households here are saying no to the country's new fibre- optic connection.
<TABLE class=picBoxL cellSpacing=2 width=100 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR class=caption><TD>MR KHOONGSingapore is faring better than fibre-optic pioneers such as South Korea and Japan when they first rolled out similar projects</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The Nationwide Broadband Network (NBN) - a fibre-optic digital highway capable of boosting Internet access speeds 10 times or more - is now being deployed by a company called OpenNet.
The company - a joint venture by Singapore Telecom, Canada's Axia Netmedia, Singapore Press Holdings and SP Telecom - has cabled about 35 per cent of households here so far.
But within the estates that have been approached by OpenNet, only half of the residents have taken up its offer, a company spokesman told BT.
Except for those living in larger apartments or landed properties, most homeowners will get their fibre-optic connection free if they say yes to OpenNet's initial roll-out. Those who turn down the company's first-time offer may have to pay $220 to $450 to wire up in future.
Services such as high-definition Internet TV, tele-medicine and ultra-fast broadband packages are expected to make their debut this year as the new network becomes progressively operational.
Without the fibre-optic link, residents will not be able to subscribe to these services. And companies will also have less incentive to introduce them if the NBN is not pervasive.
Uncertainty over future broadband prices, ambiguity over the benefits of the NBN and contractual lock-in for current Internet packages are among the reasons residents have cited for turning down the offer, the OpenNet spokesman said.
Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) assistant chief executive Khoong Hock Yun earlier told BT that lack of awareness is a key reason for declining OpenNet's offer.
While a higher figure would have been more desirable, he said Singapore is faring better than fibre-optic pioneers such as South Korea and Japan when they first rolled out similar projects.
To spur take-up, IDA has launched a national educational campaign on the new network and its benefits. Last month it opened a showroom at Esplanade Xchange to give Singaporeans a glimpse of what high-speed broadband connectivity can bring to homes and businesses.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
