MORE innovative, exciting services could be offered online in tandem with the deployment of the Next Gen NBN. As such services grow, consumers are expected to need greater protection of their personal and sensitive data as they perform more e-transactions.

IDA is developing a National Authentication Framework for verifying user identities for e-transactions.

As such, the IDA is developing a National Authentication Framework (NAF) for verifying user identities for e-transactions. Instead of having to carry multiple tokens, the NAF will allow Singaporeans to engage with the government through the web using one common authentication platform. In the future, the NAF could even be embraced by the private sector for services such as online banking to make it even easier for businesses and users to offer and participate in online transactions.

NAF thus plays an integral role as a trusted enabling infrastructure to boost public confidence in the adoption of e-services, and strengthen Singapore's reputation as a secure and trusted hub.

TO ENSURE a level playing field, the NetCo must offer wholesale dark fibre services to downstream operating companies on a non-discriminatory basis. The IDA has required for the NetCo to structurally separate from all downstream players.

The OpCo will operate the active infrastructure component of the Next Gen NBN and be responsible for aggregating and reselling Internet bandwidth to Retail Service Providers. The Government has allocated a subsidy of up to S$250 million to help finance the cost of putting in place switching and routing equipment under this phase of the project.

Submissions for the OpCo Request For Proposal closed on 5 December 2008 and the winning bid is expected to be announced in the first quarter of
this year.

AS SINGAPORE prepares for the dawn of blazing broadband speeds with the Next Gen NBN, it is also important to consider potential applications that can ride on such an ultra-fast Internet backbone.

Grid Computing allows users to save on hefty IT investments by tapping on a shared pool of computing resources.

Grid Computing, which enables the utility provisioning of compute, storage and software resources and allows users to save on hefty IT investments, is an example of an innovation that can be powered by such ultra high-speed connectivity. Commercial grid services have already become a reality today. The imminent availability of the Next Gen NBN will further fuel the growth and adoption of Grid Computing.

In June 2008, three companies were appointed by IDA to be the stewards of the National Grid. This initiative aims to provide businesses and consumers with access to on-demand and pay-as-you-use high performance computing capabilities for everything from graphics animation and biomedical research.

Alatum , nGrid (led by NewMedia Express) and PTC Systems have started offering commercial grid services with up to 3,500 compute cores and a storage capacity of up to 30 terabytes under the National Grid project.

The National Grid will also provide the foundation for a new breed of infocomm companies to provide applications and software on the web to end-users on a pay-per-use basis. By 2011, more than 80 such SaaS (software-as-a-service) players are expected to tap on this platform to offer tools such as desktop publishing and productivity packages.

WITH the relentless onslaught of new web threats, there is an overriding need to secure Singapore's current and future Internet infrastructure as more and more consumers and businesses are now turning to the web for
online commerce.

With the relentless onslaught of new web threats, there is an overriding need to secure Singapore's current and future Internet infrastructure.

To strengthen the nation's cyber defenses, the Government launched its second Infocomm Security Masterplan (MP2) in April last year. Under the five-year plan, IDA, together with the industry, will be investing a further S$70 million into infocomm security programmes that seek to rally the public and private sectors and consumers in a concerted effort to combat malicious threats over the next five years.

"While the first Masterplan aimed largely at providing the public sector with measures to counter infocomm security threats, the second Masterplan will expand on that and engage both the public and private sectors even more deeply in securing Singapore's cyber space," said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports.

Several key programmes served as the flag bearers of the new MP2. These include the formation of a new body called the Association of Information Security Professionals to elevate the standing of security specialists and provide directions for career training and advancement. IDA has also expanded its National Infocomm Scholarship Programme to offer scholarships in the area of infocomm security.

END-USER convenience was also the impetus behind a major development in Singapore's mobile market in 2008 - the introduction of Full Mobile Number Portability (FMNP) in June.

Mr Leong: Full Mobile Number Portability is expected to bring about a sea-change in Singapore's mobile market.

FMNP gives Singapore's vibrant mobile market an added boost by making it easier and faster for subscribers to "carry-over" their cell phone numbers when they switch operators. Pre-paid mobile subscribers can also enjoy the same benefits of retaining their numbers when they switch mobile operator for their pre-paid mobile services.

The introduction of FMNP has prompted telcos to step up their game and fight harder for the subscriber dollar, with end-users now benefiting from having more competitive pricing and a wider choice of value-added cellular services.

IDA Deputy Chief Executive and Director-General (Telecoms & Post) Mr Leong Keng Thai said FMNP is expected to bring about a sea-change in Singapore's mobile market. "We can expect even more exciting times ahead for our mobile market with Full Mobile Number Portability, and consumers will be the
biggest winners."