To ensure effective open access, the Government will require the company operating the passive infrastructure - the Network Company or NetCo - to be structurally separated from downstream operators such as the companies offering wholesale broadband access (the Operating Companies or OpCos) and the Retail Service Providers (RSPs). 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 Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Dr Lee Boon Yang.

Within the Next Gen NBN ecosystem, OpCos deploy active electronics such as switches and routers to manage the flow of traffic on the passive infrastructure, while the RSPs are the companies that provide Next Generation Services to end-users.

Mr Lee: Effective open access for downstream operators is critical.

Speaking at a media briefing, Dr Lee said it is critical for the Next Gen NBN to provide effective open access to downstream operators, as this will create a more vibrant and competitive broadband market.

The Next Gen NBN is expected to be available nationwide by 2015, although consumers can begin to look forward to a range of new and exciting Next Gen Services such as high-definition video conferencing, telemedicine, Grid Computing-on-Demand, security and immersive learning applications on the Next Gen NBN from about 2010.

Under the terms of the Next Gen NBN NetCo RFP, the Government is prepared to provide a grant of up to S$750 million for the project. The RFP, which is expected to close on 25 March 2008, will be evaluated based on four key criteria:

The Government will require the Network Company to be structurally separated from downstream operators.

1. Attractiveness of business plan
   to industry
2. Quality of network infrastructure
3. Level of Government grant
4. Financial proposition and strength
   of bidder

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) expects to award the winning bid in the third quarter of 2008. The RFP forms are available from the Government online procurement portal at www.gebiz.gov.sg.

Mr Behlmer: Thomson recognises Singapore’s commitment to the digital media and entertainment industry.

Thomson (www.thomson.net), through its Technicolor Digital Cinema business has announced plans to construct a secure digital cinema hub and Network Operations Centre (NOC) in Singapore to offer digital cinema service and related management solution capabilities to the motion picture industry across the Asia Pacific. Thomson is a global leader in digital video technologies for the media and entertainment industries and Technicolor has been a pioneer in enabling the advancement of global digital cinema initiatives.

The project, undertaken in partnership with the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), marks another stride forward for Singapore's plans to become the leading trusted digital cinema hub outside North America and Europe.

Mr Curt Behlmer, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Technicolor Digital Cinema, within Thomson Services division, said, “Thomson recognises Singapore’s commitment to the digital media and entertainment industry and believes there will be tremendous value in utilising their robust infrastructure to expand our digital cinema service offerings into the Asia-Pacific region."

Thomson’s Singapore facility is expected to have the capability to support physical and electronic forms of content delivery as well as Thomson’s key distribution and management systems. It will provide equipment monitoring and 24x7 multilingual call centre support, and will be fully integrated with Thomson’s operations in the United States.

“Digital cinema is growing at a very rapid pace, and we look forward to supporting studio and exhibitor customers as they begin to roll out digital cinema in Singapore and Asia-Pacific,” said Mr Behlmer.

The build-out of the new digital cinema hub and NOC in Singapore is slated to begin in mid-2008.