Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Fiber optic network in Singapore

Read this report about the challenges faced by Open Net and the dispute with IDA on the delay and poor performance on the installation of the new fibre optic network in Singapore
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120228-0000062/OpenNet-in-a-tangle-over-NGNBN-roll-out

Here are the key points on this matter:

a) The fibre optic network is a large investment of $850 million.
b) It is likely to become another "white elephant", i.e. a lot of money spent and poorly used.
c) OpenNet faced difficulties with the Internet Service Providers and owners of commercial buildings

Part of the blame must go to the poor handling of customer service by OpenNet. I have experienced this matter personally and can attest to the inefficiency of their process. I have given by suggestions on how they can make improvements, but it fell on deaf ears (like so many similar situations in Singapore).

This tussle is another reflection of the state of affairs in Singapore - too much fighting over turf and self interest, instead of the public interest. I hope that the Government leaders realize about the root cause of the many problems faced in Singapore and are willing to reach out to the wider group of Singaporeans (outside of the people in charge now) who are able to help find the solution. They are many knowledgeable people who are concerned about the future of Singapore and giving their views on the Internet.



3 comments:

C H Yak said...

@" This tussle is another reflection of the state of affairs in Singapore - too much fighting over turf and self interest, instead of the public interest."

Obviously it is for IDA to sort things out, particularly; the interfacing problems. But in Singapore it is often "plain obsession with control" but not wanting to solve such interfacing issues, espcially if it means "costs". Pushing away responsibilities between departments ... pushing to private sector contractors, then contractors pushing to say MCST or private homeowners, etc.

In my case, I dictated to the contractor what to do within my property for the free installation, but up till now I had not sign up to hook up the fibre optic network. Can't even fully utilise the current broadband. LOL.

Why is the Govt pushing first of all? IDA making from "rights"?

Tan Choon Hong said...

Too many chiefs, not enough braves. At least in the Red Indian context, the chiefs are at the front leading the fight. Here, I’m wondering what they do all day.

Tan Kin Lian said...

The staff of OpenNet spent a lot of time to install the fibre optic connection to my house. There was a simple issue of installing a short connection from the gate to my home,as the existing connection could not work. The OpenNet contractor asked me to find my own contractor to handle this work, which caused a lot of delay.

If they had a sub-contractor to handle this work, which must be quite commonly needed, and the charges are reasonable, the home owner would be quite happy to use this service.

But, this type of common sense approach has now disappeared in Singapore, due to the culture of avoiding responsibility. Sigh.

Blog Archive