At the Main Distribution Frame room. |
The Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN) has started arriving in Singapore homes, in a deployment exercise by the Network Company (Netco) OpenNet that promises minimal disruption to residents. Civil servant Mr Yeo Tiong Yeow, whose home in Cantonment Close was amongst the first in Singapore to be installed with the Next Gen NBN fibre, said he was surprised by the ease of installation. “It was less of a hassle than I anticipated.” Mr Rajesh Seth, a software developer who lives in a neighbouring block, agreed. “It was a no-fuss operation to get the fibres into my home,” he said.
The commencement of Next Gen NBN fibre installation on 5 August 2009 by OpenNet was witnessed by the Acting Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts, RADM(NS) Lui Tuck Yew. Apart from visiting the first flats to be fitted with fibre-to-the-home, RADM(NS) Lui was also shown the deployment of the fibre from the Main Distribution Frame (MDF) room at one of the blocks in the estate to the first Termination Point at the first home in a neighbouring block.
The Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN) arrives in Singapore homes
OpenNet, which is responsible for deploying and operating the passive network infrastructure of the Next Gen NBN, says that there will be minimal inconvenience to homeowners during the installation process. To minimise drilling or hacking during the fibre installation into homes, OpenNet’s authorised contractors will make use of existing points of entry, conduits and surface trunking wherever possible. According to OpenNet, the entire process should take no more than four hours on average.
The Next Gen NBN sticker indicates that the block is fibre-ready. |
Before the installation work gets under way, OpenNet will send letters to homeowners, informing them of OpenNet’s initial offer of installation and the installation period for their neighbourhood. Homeowners will have at least five weeks to respond. They can make an appointment via OpenNet’s hotline at 6563 4273 (656-FIBRE) or online at www.opennet.com.sg.
OpenNet will be waiving the installation charges for home owners for the first 15 metres of fibre run within the home, when the network first reaches their premises. “It is important that home owners work together with OpenNet to make sure that this is implemented smoothly because the first pass is free,” said RADM(NS) Lui.
Homeowners who do not take up the initial offer will have to pay S$220 per connection for a residential high-rise or S$450 per connection for a residential landed property if they subsequently request for fibre installation. For fibre installation beyond 15 metres, homeowners will be charged $33 (before GST) for every subsequent 5-metre block.
Acting Minister RADM(NS) Lui Tuck Yew greets resident Yeo Tiong Yeow (right), whose home was amongst the first in Singapore to be installed with the Next Gen NBN fibre. |
According to Mrs Tan Kah-Rhu, Chief Executive Officer of OpenNet, around 32,000 homes and 500 non-residential buildings across Singapore have currently been covered and are ready for in-premise fibre installation. By 2012, a projected 95 per cent of all residential and non-residential buildings will be wired up to the Next Gen NBN.
With nationwide coverage and ultra-high speeds of up to 1 Gbps, the Next Gen NBN will pave the way for an enhanced online experience as well as innovative new online services. For Mr Yeo, the Next Gen NBN will bring the added advantage of convenience and staying connected and up-to-date with what is happening in Singapore and in the world. “I’m definitely very excited and looking forward to the potential suite of applications that is going to come out,” he said.
For Mr Seth, applications such as telecommuting are already figuring in his plans. “Being an entrepreneur and running my own software development company, it gives me the flexibility to be more effective with what I do and at the same time, spend more time with my family.”