[1st-mile-nm] Singapore Broadband Vision

[Richard Lowenberg]

Singapore Broadband

Singapore is far from New Mexico, geographically and with regard to
broadband deployment.   But, the following article on their broadband
vision (with structural separation diagram) adds to the growing number of
examples and movement towards 'open' fiber strategies for the 1st-mile.
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www.convergedigest.com/Bandwidth/newnetworksarticle.asp?ID=23307&ctgy=

Singapore Outlines Vision for Open Access Broadband 2015

The government of Singapore outlined its vision for an open access Next
Generation National Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN) offering pervasive
ultra-high speed connectivity by 2015. The plan calls for a minimum speed
of 100 Mbps in the downlink and 50 Mbps in the uplink per end-user
connection and scalability to 1 Gbps and above. Singapore is also calling
for a separation between network layer operations (the Layer 1 physical
network), the bandwidth service operators (Layer 2 and Layer 3
connectivity), and the retail services that ride on top.

The Next Gen NBN is expected to be available nationwide by 2015, although
the first services, such as high-definition video conferencing,
telemedicine, Grid Computing-on-Demand, security and immersive learning
applications, should be running on the Next Gen NBN from about 2010.

Singapore's Infocomm Development Authority is issuing a
Request-For-Proposal (RFP) open to all interested parties to submit their
bid to design, build and operate the passive infrastructure layer of the
Next Gen NBN.

Under this RFP, a Network Company, or NetCo, will be selected to design,
build and operate this passive infrastructure that will carry the traffic
for Next Generation Services. The deployment of active electronics such as
switches and routers to manage the flow of traffic on the passive
infrastructure will be done by what is called the Operating Company or
OpCo, which will also be the entity that offers wholesale broadband access
to downstream Retail Service Providers, or RSPs. The latter are the
companies that provide Next Generation Services to end-users.

"A Next Generation Broadband Network will contribute to Singapore's
continued economic success. It is also critical for the Next Gen NBN to
provide effective open access to downstream operators. This will create a
more vibrant and competitive broadband market. As a policy, we have
therefore decided to adopt separation between the different levels of the
Next Gen NBN to achieve effective open access. The RFP to construct the
network will therefore provide for structural separation of the passive
network operator from the downstream operators. If necessary, the
Government is also prepared to consider legislation to achieve such
effective open access for downstream operators in the next generation
broadband market," said Dr Lee Boon Yang.

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The Singapore IDA site includes the above news release, as well as slide
show presentations, other documents and info. on their wireless
initiative.

www.ida.gov.sg/News%20and%20Events/20071211184512.aspx?getPagetype=20


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Richard Lowenberg
P.O.Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504
505-989-9110,  505-603-5200 cell

1st-Mile Institute
New Mexico Broadband Initiative
www.1st-mile.com
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