Request for Proposal on Centralised Number Portability Database Solution

Following its announcement in August this year of its intent to enhance the Number Portability regime in Singapore by increasing choice and flexibility in mobile and fixed line services to benefit consumers, IDA has issued a call for organisations to bid for the "Centralised Database Administrator" role as part of the country's move towards true number portability from the fourth quarter of 2007.

Number Portability refers to the option of allowing consumers to switch between telecom service providers easily without having to obtain a new number and updating all their contacts with their new number.

Singapore takes another significant step towards realising True Number Portability

Currently, consumers who switch providers are essentially provided with a call forwarding service, whereby calls to their old numbers are routed to their new ones. Unfortunately, outgoing calls and messages sent will still reflect the new number on the receiving handset. A True Number Portability regime will eliminate this as well as reduce or eliminate barriers that deter consumers from switching providers. Such a move will also keep the Singapore telecom market keenly competitive and relevant to future developments.

Since the announcement in August, a working committee comprising the IDA, fixed-line operators and mobile phone operators have been working to address the specific implementation requirements and to ensure the roll-out of True Number Portability by the 2007 deadline.

Organisations are invited to bid for the "Centralised Database Administrator" role

A Centralised Database is a repository that will store the ported phone numbers of consumers and operators' network information, facilitating the consumers to switch between providers.

To support this, the Centralised Database Administrator will be required to develop a centralised database system that will allow fixed line and mobile services providers to provide number portability services to end-users in Singapore. The appointed Centralised Database Administrator will also operate the centralised database system for seven years from the launch of True Number Portability.

Number Portability provides the option of allowing consumers to switch between telecom service providers easily

IDA's Deputy Chief Executive/Director-General (Telecoms) Leong Keng Thai sees the Request for Proposal (RFP) for an operator-neutral Centralised Database Administrator as another significant step towards realising True Number Portability in Singapore. "With the True Number Portability solution in place, we can expect to see keener competition than ever and the emergence of more compelling services and packages from the operators," he said.

The submission deadline for the RFP will be on 6 December 2006. All submissions must reach IDA not later than 1700 hrs.

System Access Chairman and CEO Mr Leslie hopes to drive further growth through strategic partnerships

One of the top providers of universal banking software solutions for financial services institutions worldwide, System Access Limited is working with Satyam Computer Services to supply, implement, and maintain System Access' SYMBOLS Core Banking Solution (CBS) in one of India's largest banks, the Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB), for the next 10 years.

The value of this 10-year deal is pegged at US$30 million and is the fruition of work facilitated by the IDA in bringing together System Access and Satyam in July 2004. "This significant win by System Access and Satyam is a testament to the effectiveness and value of such global partnerships," said Mr P. Ramakrishna, Director, Industry Development, IDA Singapore, who added that IDA remains committed to helping Singapore Infocomm companies form strategic and mutually beneficial partnerships with Infocomm multinational corporations from around the region.

With 813 branches and 76 extensions spread all over India, PSB hopes to leverage on technology to improve customer service, manage risks, reduce cost of operations, and maximise profitability.

System Access's SYMBOLS Core Banking Solution will be implemented in one of India's largest banks

This is where the partnership with Satyam benefited System Access. Satyam is a leading global consulting and information technology services company and System Access will be leveraging their IT resource pool and service delivery experience to fulfill PSB's needs.

In the meantime, System Access Chairman and CEO Mr Leslie Loh is looking forward to more results from its' Satyam partnership. "One of System Access' strategies for growth is to build-up a strategic outsourcing services and global distribution partnership ecosystem. Our partnership with Satyam has been very beneficial, culminating in this SYMBOLS core banking implementation at Punjab and Sind Bank. We expect more banks in the future to benefit from the combined strengths of our partnership's resources," he said.

Thanks to technology, the students of Nanyang Girls High School have access to collaborative and communication tools that also connects them to over 450,000 students and teachers from 2,820 institutions across 11 countries in the Asia Pacific region.

Infocomm Club Girls at Nanyang High School demonstrating the usage of Think.com

"In Nanyang Girls, we recognise that technology is a key enabler to boost our students' learning capacity beyond their school curriculum, as well as develop broader perspectives and deeper awareness of global, social and economic issues," said Madam Mak Lai Ying, Principal of Nanyang Girls High School. "Think.com was selected because it provides a trusted peer-to-peer learning environment for our students to engage in global collaborative learning."

Think.com, a community project by The Oracle Education Foundation, a non-profit organisation provides an Oracle-hosted online educational community that aims to enhance the school's global collaborative learning and knowledge development capabilities. Using Think.com as a platform for discussion and projects, Nanyang Girls' students are able to create their own personal Web space within a protected online community. Students get their own personal Web space and can exchange email, create web pages, share photos, videos and host collaborative learning activities with other Think.com members.

Students of Nanyang Girls reach out to students around the world via a protected online community

Accessible via a standard Web browser, students can stay connected to their classrooms from home, school or the library. Another plus for students, teachers and parents is that Think.com is a secure online environment. Access is granted by teachers so the students are able to interact within a secure and protected environment while Oracle provides backend support for the different schools.

100 students will be using the portal to keep in touch with their parents and fellow classmates and submit homework and reports when they go overseas for bicultural programmes, community involvement projects and overseas attachments later this year to places like India, China and the United States.

Student Ong Si Ying is looking forward to using the portal to share her experiences in China with her friends who will not be going, and to keep in touch with her parents. When she returns to Singapore, she will still be able to keep in touch with friends made overseas via Think.com.

Oracle's Mr. Frank Koo shares that some S$4.5 million is already invested for the APAC region

Oracle hopes to be able to roll out Think.com to other schools in Singapore and has already invested some S$4.5 million in the portal just for the Asia-Pacific region. Mr Frank Koo, Managing Director of Oracle Singapore, said that Oracle was very excited that Nanyang Girls joined the Think.com community for knowledge transfer, communication and enhancement of their curriculum. "Through our extensive partnerships with global academic bodies and institutions, the students at Nanyang Girls will be able to interact with their overseas counterparts, and develop relevant and useful skills in today's globalised and accelerated world," he said.

More information on Think.com can be found at www.oracle.com.