Mr Chang Kuo Tze (left, with another iCarnival visitor Mr Tay Hae Hwa) was impressed by the home surveillance systems that made use of the Next Gen NBN.

Series on Next Gen NBN adoption

A small group of senior citizens crowded around a touchscreen display, challenging each other as they unearthed old Chinese phrases buried in the sands of the Three Kingdoms.  Another visitor was checking out a HD surveillance system that would allow him to keep an eye on his home over the Internet. Yet another was trying out the Skype experience on IPTV.

These were just some of more than 3,000 visitors at the iCarnival, which was held at iExperience at Esplanade Exchange on 3 - 4 March 2012.The event was organised to let the public experience the potential and benefits of Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN) through a wide range of applications – from eye-popping fun and games to “serious” business services such as videoconferencing and cloud computing.

For example, with the use of Next Gen NBN and a smart TV, families can “scale up” their use of Skype and gather together to communicate with far-flung members and friends via a large TV screen, instead of taking turns in front of a PC monitor. Another application that was showcased at iCarnival was a HD home surveillance system which allows users to pick out the smallest detail – such as whether a power switch is “on” or “off”. This is possible because the Next Gen NBN supports cameras with high frame rates and pan-tilt zooms, where the camera can shift its angle and zoom in up to 30 metres.

Retiree Mr Chang Kuo Tsze, 63, was quite taken with these home-friendly applications. “Very good,” he said, liking the fact that he could keep an eye on what was happening at home even when he was out.

Businesses too, can leverage the ultra-fast Internet connectivity of the Next Gen NBN for applications such as HD videoconferencing. The HD system renders colleagues and business partners from other locations almost as large as life, and the Next Gen NBN ensures that the video and audio signals are transmitted without minimal lag. Documents can be shared easily via another screen, allowing collaboration and working on the same documents among the participants like they are in the same room. 

For visitors like Mr Chang, who was keen to get onto the Next Gen NBN, iCarnival also provided an opportunity for them to sign up for attractive service plans.

Among the new retail service providers who were present at the event was My Republic. Its Chief Commercial Officer, Mr KC Lai, said with the Next Gen NBN, RSPs no longer have to worry about reliability issues but could concentrate on developing services and solutions to enhance the lives of Singaporeans of all ages.

Ms Suoie Yeap: I'm a very impatient person – I like to do everything fast – and this will certainly help!

For example, My Republic has a video tutorial service which helps students with Chinese, English, Maths and Science. And it is not just “all work and no play”. Gamers can sign up a package that promises minimal latency and interruptions, as routes to popular gaming sites are monitored for congestion, and modified for the best access. “We want to provide a better value proposition for the end user,” said Mr Lai. “Everyone should realise the potential of the Next Gen NBN.”

One visitor who cannot wait to tap into that potential was massage therapist, Ms Suoie Yeap. “I’ve heard about it before, but not much,” she said of the network and its services. “Today, I got a lot more information, and I’m very impressed. I like all these new innovations.”

“I’m going to switch to this network,” she promised. “I’m a very impatient person – I like to do everything fast – and this will certainly help!”

• The Infocomm Experience Centre (iExperience) features interactive and engaging exhibits that illustrate the possibilities and benefits of the Next Gen NBN. Click here for more information.