In the process of determining the technology bets for Singapore, IDA's Technology Group tracks over 100 different infocomm technologies. Our domain experts analyse and assess these technologies and present their findings in the form of reports.
A culmination of detailed study, effort and work, the reports featured on this page would be invaluable for infocomm development. We would like to share some of these with those interested.
We also welcome you to email tecg@ida.gov.sg if you have any suggestions and comments.
2004
A joint collaboration between Intel and IDA, the IDA-Intel Wireless Hotspots and Network Interworking Initiative sought to overcome technical difficulties to achieve seamless connectivity in the wireless world. The objective was to develop and accelerate an open and standards-based architecture for cross-operator network roaming via the interworking of:
- Public Wireless Local Area Networks (PWLAN) or wireless hotspots;
- Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWAN) or mobile cellular networks; and
- Wide Area Networks (WAN) or fixed networks.
This initiative is comprised of an interworking study and an interoperability lab test. The interoperability lab test brought network operators and equipment vendors together to test out the viability of the recommendations put forth by the interworking study.
- The Interworking Study
The interworking study culminated in a blueprint that defines the steps needed to achieve seamless connectivity by incorporating user roaming requirements, developing a harmonised interworking architecture, and finally submitting the proposed architecture to the relevant standards body for consideration.
Please click here to obtain the report.
- Public WLAN Interworking Study - Validation Report
The Validation report describes the results of the Interoperability Lab Test which has validated the Public WLAN Interworking Reference Architecture developed under the IDA-Intel Wireless Interworking Initiative. It highlights the issues observed across the different PWLAN authentication methods and presents an assessment of these methods. The document also describes a set of recommendations and an architectural blueprint for deploying open, standards-based Public WLAN hotspots.
Please click here to obtain the report.
Please click here to obtain the presentation slides.
With the advent of MMS and downloadable content and media, mobile value added service providers increasingly see the need to safeguard their content through solutions such as Digital Rights Management (DRM). DRM enables the protection and management of intellectual property rights in all digital environments.
This paper presents a technical overview of the current state of Mobile Digital Rights Management (MDRM). It discusses MDRM system requirements and architecture, as well as enabling technologies like the Rights Expression Language (REL), and Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) standardisation effort. A brief summary of some of the existing mobile DRM platforms in the market are also provided.
Please click here to obtain the white paper.
2003
Wide deployments of WLAN is becoming more common in Singapore. And WLAN usage is expected to proliferate in offices, universities and homes, as well as in public areas, such as airports, hotels and restaurants. WLAN has been the initial driver for the widespread use of systems based on the IEEE802.11 standard.
To provide a test bed to evaluate the NGWLAN technology, a technical trial of NGWLAN was initiated by the Technology Group of IDA. The trial sought to identify issues, challenges and ways of NGWLAN deployment as well as to create awareness and provide deployment recommendations. The project is expected to provide insights and best practices for decision-makers, IT developers and service providers who seek to capitalise on the potentially empowering benefits of the NGWLAN technology.
Please click here to obtain the trial assessment report - "Trial-Based Study of NGWLAN Technology".
2002
Free-Space Optics (FSO), a cost-effective and easy-to-deploy network communication technology offers an attractive network option today. But there are limitations with this technology due to the fact that freespace is a hostile and unpredictable medium for data transport. Indeed, the challenges faced by FSO are many.
In 2002, the Tech Group of IDA embarked on a trial to study the challenges and evaluate the performance and reliability of FSO technology. IDA sought to provide the industry with an independent and thorough assessment of this technology through this trial.
Please click here to obtain the report - "Trial-Based Study of FSO Systems in Singapore".
2001
The National Cable Standards Committee (NCSC) is an industry-driven group, formed on 26 May 2000, to identify cable standards and technology development in Singapore and make recommendations for action. Highlights of this report, titled "A Digital Cable Standard for Singapore" include the following:
- Overview of the Digital Video Broadcasting-Cable (European's Standard) technology;
- Overview of the Open Cable (North American's Standard) technology;
- Current market status of the above technologies in terms of maturity and deployment;
- Detailed comparison and evaluation of the two technologies; and
- The technical working committee's recommendations for Singapore.
Click here to download the report.