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SINGAPORE: More than half of Singapore homes and offices are expected to have ultra-high speed broadband access by 2012.
That's a requirement of the bid for what is called Singapore's Next Generation National Broadband Network, which was thrown open on Tuesday.
Ultra-high speed of up to 1 gigabit per second - or 10 times faster than the maximum speed currently available on broadband.
That's the connectivity speed the Next Generation National Broadband Network will have and which the next generation will certainly appreciate.
Three out of four homes in Singapore already have broadband access, with an increasing number opting for wider bandwidth.
And, the benefits of this ultra-high speed network will pervade all areas of life - from online trading to e-learning.
"These may include close to real-life high-definition video conferencing, high-speed online transactions and graphics-based data visualisation. For example, the healthcare sector will be able to process and share high volume and complex medical data, including tele-radiology and MRI, to provide more timely and better medical care to patients," said Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications & The Arts.
The government will provide grants of up to $750 million to the company or consortium which wins the bid to build the island-wide infrastructure.
The successful bidder will have to ensure that the ultra-high speed network will be available to more than 50% of homes and offices in Singapore by 2012.
It will also be held to the wholesale prices it sets out in its bid.
That's one of the parameters to ensure an open market for what would be a natural monopoly.
Potential bidders include SingTel, StarHub and M1.
M1 has partnered Hong Kong Broadband Network to bid as a consortium.
The Next Generation network will be available nationwide by 2015. - CNA/ir
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