IDA To Pre-Qualify Interested Parties To Be Operating Company For Singapore's Next Generation National Broadband Network

3 March 2008 - The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) is today starting the pre-qualification exercise for the Request For Proposal (RFP) for the Operating Company (OpCo) of Singapore’s Next Generation National Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN). This follows the launch of the Next Gen NBN Network Company (NetCo) RFP on 11 December 2007 and is part of IDA’s continued engagement with the industry to roll out the Next Gen NBN.

Singapore, 3 March 2008 | For Immediate Release

The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) is today starting the pre-qualification exercise for the Request For Proposal (RFP) for the Operating Company (OpCo) of Singapore’s Next Generation National Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN). This follows the launch of the Next Gen NBN Network Company (NetCo) RFP  on 11 December 2007 and is part of IDA’s continued engagement with the industry to roll out the Next Gen NBN.

Parties interested in participating in the OpCo RFP can now apply to be pre-qualified by completing and submitting the administrative forms via the Government online procurement portal, GeBIZ (www.gebiz.gov.sg). The pre-qualification criteria, similar to those for the qualification for the NetCo RFP, can be found in the procurement document and includes considerations such as financial strength and deployment track record for network projects similar in scale and nature to the Next Gen NBN. This pre-qualification process opens today (3 March 2008) and closes in 14 days (17 March 2008).

The OpCo will work hand-in-hand with the NetCo to deploy the Next Gen NBN infrastructure. The OpCo is responsible for implementing the ‘active’ infrastructure of Next Gen NBN and managing the flow of ultra-high-speed broadband traffic on the ‘passive’ infrastructure that is designed, built and operated by the NetCo. The OpCo will offer wholesale broadband access to downstream Retail Service Providers (RSPs), which are the companies that will in turn be providing Next Generation Services to end-users. 

The OpCo RFP tendering exercise is scheduled to be called in the second quarter of this year and complements the ongoing RFP process for the NetCo. Both the NetCo and OpCo RFPs have been formulated by the IDA after an extensive year-long consultation and studies of deployments internationally. IDA expects to award the NetCo RFP and the OpCo RFP in the third quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 respectively.           
 
The Next Gen NBN when ready, will be capable of delivering speeds of up to 1Gbps and beyond, offering pervasive ultra-high speed connectivity by 2015, although consumers can begin to look forward to a range of new and exciting Next Gen Services from about 2010.

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ISSUED BY CORPORATE & MARKETING COMMUNICATION DIVISION
INFOCOMM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE

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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 news and information, visit https://www.imda.gov.sg/.

For media clarification, please contact:

Ho Ka Wei (Mr)
Manager, Corporate and Marketing Communication
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
E-mail: ho_ka_wei@imda.gov.sg

Dawn Lim (Ms)
Manager, Corporate and Marketing Communication
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Tel: +65 6211 0514
Fax: +65 6211 2227
E-mail: dawn_lim@imda.gov.sg