Singapore's telecommunications regulator, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), has been ranked Asia-Pacific's best regulatory authority by the Telecom Asia User Survey 20001. This is the second time Singapore has been voted best...
Singapore, 1 December 2000 | For Immediate ReleaseSingapore's telecommunications regulator, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), has been ranked Asia-Pacific's best regulatory authority by the Telecom Asia User Survey 20001. This is the second time Singapore has been voted best telecommunications regulator - the first time in 1998 when the User Survey was inaugurated by Telecom Asia.
The User Survey 2000 surveyed telecommunications users in 12 Asia-Pacific markets2 on various issues of concern to major telecom users in the region. This included polling users' level of satisfaction with their respective country's regulatory regime. Singapore scored the top satisfaction rating of 78%, ahead of second and third-placed Hong Kong and Malaysia. In fact, Singapore's 78% satisfaction scoring this year tops our region-leading score two years ago in the 1998 survey - where Singapore was also rated top regulator with a 75% satisfaction scoring.
Telecom Asia attributed Singapore's top ranking this year to the IDA's bold move to fully liberalise Singapore's telecommunications market this April, as well as the IDA's long-standing reputation for holding its licensees to strict Quality of Service standards in the interests of consumer satisfaction.
"We, at IDA, are delighted with the thumbs up given to us by Telecom Asia's readers," said Ms Yong Ying-I, Chief Executive Officer of IDA. "It is indeed a strong endorsement, from telecom users and the industry, of the steps taken by IDA this past year. We are excited at the changes brought about by the full market liberalisation, and that end-users and businesses are enjoying the fruits of competition - enhanced choice of innovative and quality services, at competitive prices. We look forward to further catalysing change in Singapore's infocomm industry".
"In this year's poll users gave the highest marks to regulators who had gone the furthest in deregulating and providing for sustainable competition," said Telecom Asia Group Editor Robert Clark. "Users tended to be most dissatisfied where prices remain high and innovation is limited because their regulator has resisted competition. Overall, the survey showed a strong improvement in Asia's attitude to regulators in the last two years, with more than half of all users satisfied that their needs are being addressed," added Mr Clark.
According to Telecom Asia, the annual User Survey 2000 is the sole regional poll of corporate and government users of telecom services, with 1,436 respondents.
INFOCOMM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
Notes to the Editor
1 Details of the Telecom Asia User Survey 2000 can be found at www.telecomasia.net, or in the November issue of Telecom Asia magazine.
2 The 12 countries surveyed in the Telecom Asia User Survey 2000 were Australia/New Zealand, China, Hong Kong/Macau, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
About Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) is a dynamic organisation with an integrated perspective to developing, promoting and regulating info-communications in Singapore. In the fast-changing and converging spheres of telecommunications, information and media technologies, IDA will be the catalyst for change and growth in Singapore's evolution into a vibrant global info-communications technology centre. For more information, visit www.imda.gov.sg
About Telecom Asia
Telecom Asia, published by Advanstar Asia, is Asia's leading telecommunications magazine, with 25,000 readers around the region. Telecom Asia's annual Readers' Choice Awards are the sole awards recognising excellence and achievement in Asian telecommunications. Its sister magazine, Wireless Asia, is the biggest specialist wireless industry publication, with 15,000 readers, and the Telecom Asia Web site, telecomasia.net, provides Asia's most comprehensive daily telecommunications news service. More information is available on www.telecomasia.net.
For media clarifications, please contact:
Ms Dulcie CHAN
Manager, Corporate Communication
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Tel: +65 211-1999
Fax: +65 211-2227
Email: dulcie_chan@imda.gov.sg
Ms Jennifer TOH
Manager, Corporate Communication
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Tel: +65 211-0508
Fax: +65 211-2227
Email: jennifer_toh@imda.gov.sg
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