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The Infocomm Development Authority today pre-qualified 12 bidders who are now in the running to deploy Singapore’s ultra-highspeed Next Generation National Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN). About 30 companies have come forward, either as individual entities or as consortia members, to apply to participate in the Next Gen NBN project.
Singapore, 3 March 2007 | For Immediate Release
The Infocomm Development Authority today pre-qualified 12 bidders who are now in the running to deploy Singapore’s ultra-highspeed Next Generation National Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN). About 30 companies have come forward, either as individual entities or as consortia members, to apply to participate in the Next Gen NBN project.
“The NBN will be capable of offering ultra-high speeds of 1 Gbps or more, and aims to provide affordable broadband for 95 per cent of all homes and businesses by 2012. An open access architecture will ensure competitiveness in our Infocomm sector, and facilitate the development of diverse, new services for businesses and individuals,” said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts in Parliament today. (Click here to view speech.)
The bidders were pre-qualified following IDA’s call1 to the industry in December 2006 to participate in a Pre-Qualification Exercise and Competitive Dialogue (IPCD). That process was the first step in preparation for a formal Request For Proposal (RFP) for the Next Gen NBN project2 later this year. Pre-qualified bidders will be invited to participate in a Competitive Dialogue between April and July 2007.
The Competitive Dialogue is an opportunity for the 12 pre-qualified bidders to provide feedback on a proposed set of RFP parameters and specifications, which will serve to refine the eventual RFP.
Interested bidders who did not apply to be pre-qualified or were not shortlisted during the IPCD exercise may still participate in the RFP in August. However, they must either partner the pre-qualified bidders, or write in to IDA to put forth a case for their application, after the Competitive Dialogue phase. New bidders must at least meet the same set of pre-qualification criteria - such as financial strength and deployment track record.
The run-up to the RFP has been planned as follows:
| Activity | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Public release of pre-qualification results | 3 Mar 07 |
| Pre-qualified bidders submit Competitive Dialogue proposal | 27 Apr 07 |
| IDA holds Competitive Dialogue with pre-qualified bidders | End-Apr – Mid-Jul 07 |
| Qualification of new bidders (if required) | Mid-Jul – End-Aug 07 |
| Issue of RFP to qualified bidders | Mid-Aug 07 |
| Award of winning bid | End-Dec 07 |
The NBN is the wired component of Singapore’s Next Generation National Infocomm Infrastructure. The network, expected to be ready by 2012, will be future-proof and able to deliver speeds of 1Gigabits per second or more. The wireless component, which is being deployed island-wide currently, will extend broadband access beyond homes, schools and offices, to public places. Together, the next generation wired and wireless infrastructure will entrench Singapore’s Infocomm hub status and open the doors to new business opportunities and social well-being for the nation. This has been envisioned in Singapore’s sixth Infocomm masterplan, Intelligent Nation 20153.
ISSUED BY CORPORATE & MARKETING COMMUNICATION DIVISION
INFOCOMM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
Notes to the Editor:
1 IDA started the formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process with the issuance of the IPCD on 15 December 2006 via the Government online Gebiz procurement portal. Interested private sector companies and/or entities were invited to demonstrate their capabilities to pre-qualify for the NBN project, based on a set of evaluation criteria defined in the IPCD document, and participate in the subsequent Competitive Dialogue. The IPCD application closed on 9 February 2007. Please refer to Annex A for the list of pre-qualified bidders.
2 Prior to the IPCD, IDA had issued a Request-for-Concept (RFC) for the Next Gen NBN on 23 March 2006 to assess market interest in the project and to obtain industry inputs on key project parameters. The RFC, which closed on 15 June 2006 attracted enthusiastic support from the industry with 33 responses.
3 Intelligent Nation 2015, or iN2015, is Singapore's sixth and latest Infocomm masterplan. Its vision is to transform the country into an Intelligent Nation, A Global City, powered by Infocomm by the year 2015. It was launched on 20 June 2006, by Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lee Boon Yang, at the annual Infocomm Media Business Exchange, or imbX.
About Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) is committed to growing Singapore into a dynamic global infocomm hub. IDA uses an integrated approach to developing infocommunications in Singapore. This involves nurturing a competitive telecoms market as well as a conducive business environment with programmes and schemes for both local and international companies. For more information, visit https://www.imda.gov.sg/.
For media clarification, please contact:
HO Ka Wei (Mr)
Manager, Corporate & Marketing Communication
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Fax: +65 6211-2227
Email: info@imda.gov.sg
Annex
