Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Cheaper computers, broadband for poor

More low-income families with school-going children will get computers and broadband Internet at a subsidised rate.

These are part of a move to make technology more accessible to Singaporeans.

Download speeds for Wireless@SG will be doubled and remain free for another four years till 2013.

The initiatives were announced yesterday by Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew at the opening ceremony of Asia's largest technology show, the Infocomm Media Business Exchange.

From July 1, families with a household income of $2,500 or less will pay as little as 25 per cent of the cost of a new desktop or notebook computer.

Families will also be able to apply for a new computer every four years, down from five years previously. Low-income families who have computers will be able to apply for a 1Mbps broadband at just $1.50 per month.

Since 1999, the scheme, which had a previous income cap of $2,000, has helped 27,000 low-income households obtain desktop computers.

Meanwhile, the Wireless@ SG service, whose 430,000 users spend an average of 3.6 hours online every month, will enjoy faster download speeds of 1Mbps from September.

The login process will also be streamlined from next January so users do not need to sign on every time they go online. They will need to do it only once the first time they use the service.

The new initiatives, said Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui the guest of honour at the four-day event at the Singapore Expo are necessary to "enable new possibilities and opportunities" for all Singaporeans.

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