The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) today announced that Singapore will be home to Asia's first neutral Peering Point for GRX (GPRS Roaming Exchange) providers...
Singapore, 17 February 2003 | For Immediate Release
The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) today announced that Singapore will be home to Asia's first neutral Peering Point for GRX (GPRS Roaming Exchange) providers. Supported by the GSM Association (GSMA), Singapore becomes the second GRX neutral Peering Point in the world. Singapore is positioned to become a key exchange point for GPRS roaming services and traffic in the region.
The IDA facilitated leading international GRX providers in coming together in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish Asia's neutral Peering Point in Singapore. GRX providers that have signed the MOU include Aicent Inc., Belgacom SA, Reach Global Services Ltd and Sonera. More are expected to come onboard.
IDA Assistant Chief Executive for Infocomm Development Khoong Hock Yun said, "We are pleased that our efforts are supported by the GSMA GRX Working Party. Singapore's position as a GRX hub will make the Republic a focal point in driving GPRS roaming services and traffic in Asia. The Peering Point will have the advantage of leveraging off Singapore's globally-linked telecom infrastructure."
The world's first neutral Peering Point is the GPRS Peering Amsterdam (GPA) located within the Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX). It facilitates the relative ease and quick interconnection of GRX providers. This GRX community comprises GRX operators with a total global footprint covering more than 250 countries.
GSMA's GRX Working Party Chairman Rene Herlaar said, "The choice of Singapore as Asia's first neutral Peering Point is a landmark move in enhancing global GRX infrastructure. This is in line with the plans of the GRX Working Party to establish peering points in Asia and it enables the global mobile community to deliver GPRS roaming services in a timely and efficient manner."
Asia's first GRX Peering Point in Singapore capitalises on the Republic's liberalised telecommunications market. These include direct international connectivity to over 100 countries, high-speed submarine cable capacity of 21Tbps, high bandwidth and direct Internet connectivity to 30 key regional markets. Singapore also has a high mobile penetration of 78% and one of the world's highest SMS usage. Singapore's strategic geographical location at the crossroads of Asia was another key factor.
Traditionally, bilateral relationships between GPRS mobile operators have made global roaming possible. However, the growing number of operators globally has made this an increasingly expensive proposition. A GRX enables various GPRS mobile operators to interconnect their networks by connecting to a dedicated IP-based and secured network. For the mobile operator, this means achieving GPRS roaming with their partner networks simply and quickly by connecting to the GRX operator of their choice. It also facilitates a faster time-to-market for their GPRS roaming services. For mobile subscribers, it enables mobile GPRS roaming. They can access their home GPRS services while roaming abroad.
The birth of an Asian GRX Peering Point is aimed at handling anticipated growth of GPRS services and volumes around the world. The IDC report on mobile subscriber growth in the Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) estimates that the number of mobile subscribers will grow from 253.9 million in 2001 to 558.4 million by 2006. This represents a compounded annual growth of 17%. The peering point will allow GRX providers with Asian customers to offer better quality of data roaming services, reduced latency, enhanced security and cost savings.
ISSUED BY CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIVISION
INFOCOMM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
About GPRS and GRX
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is the enhanced data service for GSM, a packet-switched mobile network technology, which is widely expected to constitute the next stage in the evolution of GSM networks. GPRS offers end-users an always-on experience with higher bandwidths compared to current GSM technology. These features will enable users to gain easier and faster access to mobile services such as m-commerce, messaging, location-based services and corporate services.
A GRX (GPRS Roaming Exchange) provides services allowing the interconnection of various GPRS operators.
About AMS-IX and GPA
The Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX), a member-owned association, is the largest neutral and independent Internet Exchange on mainland Europe and one of the largest Internet Exchanges worldwide. Currently 120 members exchange IP traffic with each other at one or more of the four current AMS-IX locations. By making use of the AMS-IX, connected parties improve performance and redundancy while saving on bandwidth usage. Building on this experience, GPRS Peering Amsterdam (GPA) was constituted.
About GSMA and the GRX Working Party
The GSM Association (GSMA) is the world's leading wireless industry representative body. It consists of more than 660 second and third generation wireless network operators working collaboratively to accelerate the implementation of collectively identified, commercially prioritized operator requirements. The Association's members provide digital wireless services to more than 800 million customers in over 190 countries of the world (end January 2003).
The GSM family of wireless communications platforms, including GSM, GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), EDGE (Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution) and W-CDMA account for approximately 72 percent of the total digital wireless market today. The GSM Association is a unique organisation, with truly global reach, offering a full range of business and technical services to its members. For more information, visit the website at www.gsmworld.com.
The GRX Working Party is a part of the International Roaming Expert Group (IREG) within the GSMA. It comprises all providers of GPRS data roaming services in the world.
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 https://www.imda.gov.sg/
For more information, please contact:
Mr Joseph Rajendran / Ms Wendy Lee
Hill & Knowlton (SEA) Pte Ltd
DID: +65 6390 3361 / +65 6390 3366
GSMA
Ms Clare Bragg / Mr Richard Fogg
Companycare Communications
Tel: +44 (0) 118 939 5900
IDA
Mr Kelvin Lee
Manager, Corporate Communication
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
DID: +65 6211 1726
Fax : +65 62112227
Email: Kelvin_LEE@imda.gov.sg
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