IDA issues RFP

The government said it will provide up to S$250 million to the successful bidder of an "operating company" (OpCo) from the private sector to design, build and operate the active infrastructure of the nation's Next Generation National Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN).

According to the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), the Next Gen NBN will offer competitively priced ultra-high speed broadband connectivity across the nation by 2015, but consumers will be able to access high-definition video conferencing, telemedicine, Grid Computing-on-Demand, security and immersive learning applications on the NBN from 2010.

"For Singapore to remain competitive in an increasingly globalised and digital economy, we need carful and timely investments in our key economy infrastructure, including our national infocomm infrastructure," said IDA chairman Yong Ying-I. "In this regard the government is seeking private sector participation in Singapore's Next Gen NBN."

The OpCo RFP follows a pre-qualification exercise in March which saw 11 companies being pre-qualified to submit bids for the Next Gen NBN OpCo RFP.

The IDA previously called for an RFP in December last year for a Next Gen NBN Network Company, during which the government committed to provide a grant of up to S$750 million.

The closing date for the OpCo RFP is 20 August 2008.