Showing posts with label Wireless. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wireless. Show all posts

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.

Wireless@SG免费服务 延至2013年


免费无线上网服务Wireless@SG获政府延长4年至2013年3月,而从今年9月起,该服务的上网速度也将加倍,达到1Mbps。

资讯通信发展管理局总裁戴荣利昨天在“2009年资讯通信与媒体商务交流大会”(imbX)上宣布这项消息。这项服务原定在今年底结束,如今3家经营公司Singtel、iCell和QMax可在2013年的新期限后,自行决定是否要向公众收费。

iCell总裁蔡崇健告诉《联合早报》,经营者向使用无线网络的商家收费,足以维持营运底线,使用该服务的一般公众,在4年后需付费的可能性不大。

9月开始安装光纤网络

另一方面,新一代全国宽带网络光纤安装项目将于今年9月展开,居民将在7月陆续收到通知信件,以安排公司上门安装光纤末端盒(fibre termination box)的时间。

负责铺设光纤的OpenNet财团昨天宣布光纤安装详情和铺设进展。安装工程将率先在4个地区展开,它们是麦波申/布莱德、裕廊、密驼路/黄金地带、芽笼/友诺士。这些地区共有56,000个家庭和1000个非住宅单位。

收到通知的家庭和商业用户,须在3个星期内通过信件回复或网上注册表示他们接受首次免费光纤安装。居民如果没有及时回复或拒绝首次安装,日后的安装费是家庭用户$220,商业用户$450。

安装人员将把光纤从设于组屋走廊的光纤分端点(fibre distribution point)铺设至居民家中,并在家中安装一个光纤末端盒,每个家庭的安装时间不超过4小时。

公众可上网www.opennet.com.sg,查询住家光纤安装时间。