Wired Singapore moving towards wireless

 

Singapore, a small island that spans only 44 km from point to point and a population of 3.8 million people, it is fast gaining attention in Asia’s multimedia world.

 

In the 1990s’, Singapore first launched its IT2000 Masterplan and the concept of going wireless was mooted. A decade later and the launch of Singapore ONE in 1998, the wireless dream of Singapore is slowly taking shape.

 

Singapore ONE is a national broadband initiative which comprises building a nationwide broadband infrastructure and developing compelling interactive broadband multimedia content, applications, and services to be delivered via the broadband backbone. The broadband infrastructure currently consists of high capacity ATM networks and switches that cover over 99% of the island with access via ADSL, cable, wireless, and fibre to the curb. It carries voice, data, audio, and video information simultaneously and at high speed to homes, businesses, schools, and other public places throughout the country.

 

First, the successful implementation of the Singapore broadband dream and now the reality of implementing wireless communication ports, will essentially make Singapore an ideal test bed for future companies to roll out their wireless applications and solution

 

Today, with Singapore's mobile penetration rate standing at about 75%*, the wireless industry in Singapore is a step closer to becoming a living lab for wireless innovation.

 

Despite global instability in all sectors, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (iDA), the governmental regulator, has continued to push out new initiatives to help the wireless industry in Singapore progress.

 

Local facilities for wireless innovations include Institute for Communications Research (ICR, formerly the Centre for Wirelesss Communications); NewsTakes; Ericsson Cyberlab; NEC's W-CDMA R&D Centre; HP Mobile e-Services Bazaar; and CAP Gemini Ernst & Young's Global Wireless Internet Centre. There are also research partnerships such as Mobile One and EdgeMatrix's Wireless Intellect Labs and Palm and Temasek Polytechnic's Mobile Computing Centre.

 

In 2000, iDA launched the 'Wired With Wireless' programme to promote the development of mobile infrastructure, products and services. The three main areas of focus are location-based services, mobile commerce, and wireless multimedia.

 

The two initiatives, Pilot And Trial Hotspots (PATH) and Overseas Business Centres (OBC), aim to promote continuous wireless technology proliferation and the development of exportable products and services for Singapore-based companies.

 

1. Pilot And Trial Hotspots (PATH)

IDA has set aside an initial sum of S$9 million for PATH to stimulate the development of innovative pilots and trials for wireless products and services in Singapore. PATH aims to position Singapore as a test bed of wireless activities, and to encourage Singapore-based companies to achieve world class excellence in wireless technology development. To this end, PATH will support the implementation of innovative pilots and trials by companies and organisations. It will be supported by co-sponsoring organisations that will eventually use the developed services.

 

In addition, IDA will periodically conduct a Call for Collaboration (CFC) exercise. This seeks to rally wireless industry players in proposing wireless pilots and trials to address specific applications or needs of a vertical sector. Various CFCs to date are wireless Java solutions, mobile payment, mobile workforce solutions, pervasive wireless access, home networking and wireless tourism applications.

 

2. Overseas Business Centres (OBC)

Complementing PATH will be the Overseas Business Centres (OBC) initiative. It seeks to address the technology development and market access needs of the Singapore wireless industry by providing a platform for collaboration between Singapore-based companies and foreign technology players.

Under OBC, Singapore-based companies and their foreign technology partners can benefit through joint development in, two ways:

a) Singaporean companies can establish a market presence through increased direct access links with the corporate headquarters of wireless global players. It allows them to rapidly export their products and services to, and beyond the region by access to marketing channels, technology and roll out resources. And,

b) Foreign OBC partners stand to gain from the proliferation and adoption of their technology beyond its country of development.

 

Prepared by:

Ms Joelle Loy

Trade Officer

Economic and Trade Department

Embassy of Israel, Singapore

September 2002

 

Fact Sheet: Singapore Mobile Industry

Source: Merrill Lynch Telco Exchange No. 9 – 2 May 2002

 

About Israel Embassy in Singapore

The Economic and Trade Department of the Embassy of Israel, Singapore assists Israeli companies interested to establish business relationships in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and other Southeast Asia countries.

Besides providing market and industry information, we also organize seminars and take part in exhibitions to promote specific Israeli industries.

To find out more about our activities, please visit us at www.israelbiz.org.sg.

 

*Source: iDA telecom statistics as at July 2002.