7. Singapore

7.1 An profile of Singapore Economy
Singapore, as a small urban country in Asia, covers 646 sq km, and has a population of 3,100,000. In recent dozens of years, under the drive of government, Singapore put the development of information industry as a priority, construct actively the information infrastructure, enable this country with limited area become e-Commerce center and 1 information power in Asia-Pacific region, creates an information miracle in the human history. According to the 2000 IDC Information Society Index (ISI), Singapore was rated as the 4th world-leading information economic jumping from the original 11th, after the US, Sweden, and Finland. This was the third IDC Information Society Index, which was based on the information documents 1997 of 55 countries, and the ISI indicators 23 indications information date such as family owing rate of PC, Internet users and local call fee, etc. into index. The ISI vividly showed the great stride of Singapore information development. The World Teleport Association named Singapore the 1999 Intelligent City of the Year. The World Competitiveness Yearbook 1999 ranked Singapore 2nd in the world for implementing new technology that met business requirements and for efforts in addressing the Year 2000 problem, and 3rd in the world for electronic Commerce (EC) development for business opportunities.

7.2 Development Status and Trend of Singapore Communications
7.2.1 Construction and appraisal of Singapore communication technology infrastructure system
1. Construction status of network infrastructure
The Singapore Government has always put communication infrastructure construction as an important part of national economic strategy; whole technology development is carried out under the unified planning of the Government. Singapore started its informatization from 1980, and market out 4 stages: computerization of all industries, massive IT development, to help common people use IT, to construct new infrastructure. The National Computerization Plan was developed in 1981, national IT Plan in 1986, active construction of Science and Technology Island was started in 1989, IT 2000 plan in 1992, and Infocomm 21 (Information and Communication Technology for the 21 Century) was promulgated in January 2000 by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), which was formed with the merger of National Computerization Bureau NCB and Telecommunications Authority of Singapore (TAS). Infocomm 21 is the extension and development of IT 2000 plan.
Singapore started to construct high-speed communication network within whole country and to provide computer application services from the late 1980s. Especially, the implementation of IT 2000 Plan that was a National Information Infrastructure plan (NII) with the aim toe transform Singapore into an Intelligent Island, which enabled the Singapore information communication infrastructure greatly developed. In June 1996, Singapore invested S$82 million to develop the first national broadband network in the world----Singapore ONE (One Network for Everyone). It played important role as the backbone nerve of the Intelligent Island, its structure was composed of seven layers: NII network and platform layer, distributed computer and management layer, basic services layer, public services layer, application services layer, security and system management layer, system environment and human-interface layer. Singapore ONE was an important composition part of the great ideal Singapore IT 2000 Plan, which was under joint coordination, development and operation of NCB, National Science and Technology Bureau (NSTB), TAS and Singapore Broacasting Anthority (SBA), among which TAS was responsible for the construction of infrastructure hardware platform for Singapore ONE, the NCB in charge of development of network application, the NSTB in charge of broadband technology support, the EDB in charge of developing and accelerating e-Commerce and investment to applications, the NSBA responsible for assisting and encouraging broadcasting companies and other content providers to provide adequate information contents for Singapore ONE. In January 1997, the TAB initiated and established a services joint venture I-NETS Singapore Pte Ltd to develop and operate Singapore ONE core net. Singapore ONE after its establishment could provide real practical interactive multimedia capabilities and services. It centered on ATM interchange technology technology, used HFC and ADSL together, and connect all offices, public places and houses through optic fiver net and cable television net, and provided IT application and services to all fields of society and improved citizens' living quality. By the end of 2000, Singapore ONE had realized the following index:
(1) Singapore ONE provides 99% network accessibility from homes and offices, government organs, all schools, more than half of public libraries and community clubs.
(2) Now Singapore ONE has over 26,000 users in. Users can access to about 220 applications such as entertainment and news-on-demand, education, online shopping and other electronic commerce services, video-conferencing capabilities and fast Internet, etc.
(3) To attract overseas users, Singapore ONE services have also been offered over the @ Home broadband network in the USA, reaching out to one million North American subscribers. (Above data comes from Singapore government website)
Furthermore, Singapore has network connection to more than 20 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including high-speed links with ASEAN member countries, Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, India and Australia. Singapore has 70 Mbps of aggregated Internet bandwidth within the Asia-Pacific region, and 250 Mbps Internet bandwidth to the USA.
There are about 2% of the Internet users using Broadband access to Internet in Singapore; this rate is quite similar to that in the USA. Besides optic fiber net and cable television net, Singaporean also can access to Internet through telephone lines. Since it is a small country, Singapore has become the country to access to Internet with the most-advanced technology in the world, 98% of telephone lines all can apply 2Mbps high-speed ADSL Modem. The Star Tel Co. having 200 thousand phone subscribers and Singapore Telecom having 1.8 million phone subscribers all provide subscribers free access to Internet (only local call fee charged).
2. Fixed Phones and Mobile Phones
By October 2000, Singapore had, 1,935,900 fixed phone lines (amount to 59.3% of total population), and 2,442,100 cellular/portable phone users, accounting for 74.8% of total population, Users of paging services were 839,100, amounting for 25.7% of total population.
Singapore has the most-advance and effective telecommunication network in the world. The national fixed phone net was the first line net totally revamped to key-press net in the world, and fully completed in 1983; in September 1994, local area network was completely digitalized. All telephone exchangers were connected by optic fiber in Singapore. Singapore also connected closely with the rest of world through three international digital phone channels, three satellite earth stations (SES) and one ocean bed cable network. Singapore can carry out direct digital or analog communications with more than 80 countries in the world through Sentosa, Bukit, Timah and Seletar satellite earth stations.
Singapore Telecommunications adopts ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) technology to solve the final one-kilometer "bottle neck" problem. The download speed of this business is 23 Mbps, 18 times faster than that of ISDM. Generally, the speed of ADSL will decrease along the extension of distance, but since Singapore telecommunications equipped ASDL access equipment at all 27 phone switchover points, which enabled every potential subscriber to be within the 4km area of ADSL MUX, this basically means that its performance will not decrease. Furthermore, subscribers also don't have much burden. The access fee is $0.0.32/min, similar to ISDN; its monthly rental is only US$ 15.75. When a subscriber opens an account, he shall only spend US$ 795 to buy a ADSL Modem, a ATMPC card and a MPEG video card. (Source: data communications 1998 No.1)
Singapore strives forward in wireless communications, too. In 2000, Singapore announced that it world award four 3G business licenses in 2001, and complete the first exhibit of 3G by 2003. IDA developed the S$200 million "Wired With Wireless" program to accelerate infrastructure providers and access services providers and content services providers to develop wireless products and services. All these efforts are to realize Singaporean "Wireless Living Style", by that time, mobile commerce and transmission of information and services through many wireless communications equipment would be a part of regional culture.
Singaporean cellular mobile phone net is able to support GSM900, CDMA, GSM 1800 and WAP; all networks support global surfing the Net; while public mobile data network supports wireless data dual transmission, applications could include vehicle automatic positioners, enterprise network wireless access, dual transmission, wireless severity system, wireless Internet mail system access, domestic and international fax, and mobile calculation, etc.
The High Speed Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD) of Sing Tel Mobile enables subscribers' net surfing speed increase by 4 times. The Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) is on the trial operation, which is a 3G system, and is able to reach maximum speed of 3Mbps to transmit wireless high definition video information and net information. The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) services of M1 now can provide subscribers wireless access to net surfing at a maximum speed of 14.4 kbps, compared with WAP normal speed of 9.6kbps, which is a great increase.
Singapore will still invest a great deal in the future to information communications industry to realize the potentiality of infrastructure and updated technology.
It is estimated that in the coming several years, the investment will hit S$3 billion resulting from the complete market liberalization except the investment to 3G and fixed wireless network.
7.2.2 Development status and trend of communication industry

7.2.3 Situation and development trend of telecommunication operation market
1. Fully opening of domestic market
Opening course and market situation
(1) Opening of telecommunication equipment market. Singapore telecommunication equipment market started to be open from 1986. In 1989, telecommunication user equipment separated from Singapore Telecommunications Company and become the private telecommunication equipment company, thus the market of telecommunication user equipment was fully open.
(2) Separation of governmental functions from enterprise management and telecommunication governance. In April 1992, according to TAS Act, Telecommunication Administration Bureau was restructured to be especially responsible for jurisdiction of telecommunications and postal services, making governmental policies and accelerating the trade development. The two limited companies, i.e. Singapore Telecom and Singapore Postal Services, controlled by Government. Through shares were responsible for the original business operation function. Telecommunication business market stared to be gradually open from 1992.
(3) Mobile phone and paging services. It took 2 years plus 10 months to open mobile phone and paging services market from public bidding to the actual operation by multiple companies. In June 1994, the second business license for public mobile information services invited for public bidding. In April 1997, Paging and mobile phone services market were open, and new companies to start operation were the second mobile company M1 and three paging companies STMessaging, Hutchison Irapage and M1. In 1998, Star Hub and P2P competed with each other for the award of newly added public mobile phone services business licenses. P2P was canceled for its qualification due to special reasons. In April 2000, Singapore Telecom, M1 and Star Hub were three participants competing with each other for mobile phones.
(4) Internet. For the openness of Internet business, it took 4 months from calling for tender to license issuance; and three years, later, government cancelled the limitation to licenses, and later cancelled the limitation to foreign capitals. In May 1995, ISAP business licenses invited public bidding. In September, additional two Internet access business licenses were issued, which made the local Internet Access companies from original one increased to three: Sing Net, Pacific Internet, Cyberwany. In October 1995, it was allowed to resell the services provided by ISAP. In July 1995, connections between value-added networks were permitted. In April 1996, value-added industry operators were allowed to provide value-added information as well as store and forward e-mails. In October 1998, ISAP market was further opened, any legal person complying with basic conditions could apply business license. In June 1999, opened international Internet exchange services providers (IXSP) Market. At the same time, Singapore Telecom and SHB signed Interconnection Agreement. In September 1999, cancelled limitation on foreign capitals to operate ISAP and IXAP. ISP competition in Singapore was fierce. Three ISPs had taken measures to cement their competitive position. At the beginning of year 2000, the Sing Net who had half of the access subscribers announced to bear the local call fee for subscribers so as to decrease the total cost of Internet visit by 505. This activity reduced the net surfing fee of dial-up subscribers to 72 Singaporean cent per hour (equal to US$ 0.43). Successively, the Pacific Internet who owned 40% of market share announced that he world bear the phone call fee for Internet subscribers in the future. Starting from July of this year, the Pacific Internet has been sending the free gift to TV set, DVD/Video player, VCD or cameras to those subscribers who pre-paid yearly Internet access fee. Subscribers who can enjoy this special promotion shall pay S$1236 as yearly uninterrupted Internet access fee, or super easy connection plan that is to pay S$ 772. 50 for monthly 32 hours Internet access, or easy connection plan that is S$679.80 for 13 hours monthly access. Cyberway, who had gained capital, experience and expectation through the combination with Star Hub to extend comprehensive services, planned to provide wired and mobile phone services in Singapore from April 2000.
(5) Basic telecommunications market. Openness of basic telecommunications market was most cautious. In April 1996, the Singapore Government announced to have the period of Singapore Telecom franchise exclusive license to basic telecommunication business service bring forward from 2007 to 2002. In May, further decided to bring forward the openness date of basic telecommunication services market to 2000, therefore, Singapore government paid a compensation of US$ 1.071 billion to Singapore Telecom. In April 1998, it was declared that Star Hub formed from STT, Sing Power ,BT and NTT was a bidder of basic telecommunication services. In March 1997, invited public bidding for two additional licenses for the provision of public basic telecommunications services from 2000, and foreign equity limit is 49%. On 1April, 2000, Singapore Government officially announced the openness of basic telecommunication services, and fixed lines would be competed by Singapore Telecom and Star Hub. From the announcement of overall liberialization of telecommunication up to December 2000, Singapore government had issued 9 business licences oriented at infrastructure operation and 186 business licenses oriented at services, providers oriented at services included world telecom carriers such as Flag Telecom, QALA Broadband, Davnet and MCI World Com, etc.
(6) Legal environment for competition. In September 2000, IDA officially implemented Competition Behavior Law on Provision of Telecommunications Services. Such Act clearly defines the competition behavior in telecommunication services market, in addition, it also provides a statutory framework facilitating new competitors entering into Singapore market; and also encourages enterprises invest on basic facilities.
2. Strong expansion abroad
Aiming at being the main regional telecommunication carrier, Singapore Telecom actively expanded the regional telecommunication market in recent years, and succeeded in acquiring shares of some telecommunication companies in Belgium, India, Taiwan (China), Thailand and Philippines, including:
Spent S$900 million acquiring 12.15% share of Belgium Telecommunications
Spent S$690 million acquiring 20% share of Bharti Telecom and 15% share of Bharti Telecom Innovation Company which are affiliated to the Bharti Group. In 2001, Singapore Telecom once planned to cooperate with India Bharti Group, the largest private telecommunication company in India, to provide International Long Distance Call services in India. As soon as India government officially opens its International Long Distance Telecommunications, both parties will jointly operate International Long Distance Call services through joint venture.
Spent S$629 million acquiring 24% share of Taiwan's e21 Times. Singapore Telecom announced in 2000 that it increased its investment on e21 Times-joint venture in Taiwan China-from S$378 million (S$1 equals to about US$0.59) TO s$629 million, thus its share owned also increased from 18% up to 24.3%, so as to invest more on basic telecommunication facilities, and get ready for the official operation of its fixed phone lines in Taiwan region in 2001. Singapore Telecom established New Century Infocomm Consortium together with Taiwan big companies such as Taiwan Far East Group and other companies in 1999, and obtained the composite fixed network license for the operation of fixed line network services in Taiwan. The main scope of the company is to provide international long distance call or within the region of Taiwan China and lease circuit services for local voice, data and Internet and broadband application, etc. Other stockholders of New Century Infocomm include Taiwan China Development Industrial Bank, The United Group (统一集团), KG Telecom (和信), China Life Insurance Company (国寿), Aurola (震旦集团互盛资通), etc. The investment increase of Singapore Telecom on New Century Infocomm would enable this joint venture have the chance to expand its share on the fast developed telephone markets in Asia such as Thailand, Philippines and India. The Singapore Telecom took this step is also to empower him to be the main provider of regional Internet.
Spent S$716 million acquiring 20% share of Thailand's Advanced Info Services;
Spent S$39.10 million acquiring 31% share of Thailand Point Asia. com;
Spent S$360 million acquiring 39.07% share of Philippine's Global Telecommunications;
In 2001, Singapore Telecom spent S$15.3 billion succeeding in purchasing Australia C&WOPTUS Telecommunication Company. This purchase was a large scale overseas purchase program after its failure to purchase shares of Hong Kong Telecom and Malaysia 时光网. After successful purchase of Australia C&WOPTUS, Singapore Telecom could immediately step into Australian mobile communication market, and could benefit from more than 20% annual growth rate of Australia C&WOPTUS, and also made a big stride to realize its strategic goals.
3. Trend
The Infocomm Development Authority established in December 1999 was mainly responsible for the governance and acceleration of communication technology industry. Its plan on the future was mainly represented by Infocomm 21 Plan (Information and Communications Technology for the 21st Century) embarked in 2000, which was the extension of IT 2000 Plan, and its strategic objective was to facilitate the information and communication industry become the main economy growth component in knowledge-economy era and the industry to enhance international competitiveness and to improve the living quality and standard of citizens in the information society. The objective of this plan was to develop interconnection network without national boundaries, and to build Singapore as one of the world largest infocomm hub within 5 to 10 years, and to empower information and communication industry the new largest economy increase point. It is planned that the annual infocomm output reaches S$40 billion by 2005. The content of telecom governance is mainly to ensure fair competition, and let consumers enjoy more choices, better services, and cheap and good innovative services.
At present, Singapore almost opens all telecommunication services market with the exception of broadband network in order to adapt to the restructure of global telecom industry and ease the governance, and create space for network development. Since the fully openness of telecommunication services market, it brings in investment of about S$3 billion, and creates more than 2500 new job positions. Based on the successful experience of the openness of telecommunication field, Singapore Government is also considering opening its broadband market, especially broadband ICP to speed up the popularization of broadband.
It is foreseeable that the development trend of Singapore telecommunication operation market appears to be liberalization in depth, more competition and further privatization; the services and application of information communications will be more popular, broadcasting, computer and telecommunication technology will be further integrated, and national information superhighway will be constructed and developed towards more internationalization.

7.3 Development and Market Analysis of Singapore Information Industry
In the last decade, Singapore has witnessed a rapid development in IT industry, and its technicians involved have quadrupled in the quantity, with an annual growth 30% above.
7.3.1 Electronics
Over the past years, the position of Singapore in the international electronics market has fallen from the fourth major exporter in 1997 to the ninth in 2000, listed behind South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan (China), and China.
By the end of 2000, almost all major electronics except IC and semiconductors in Singapore have got corrosion in their market scales to a varying degree. Singapore has been squeezed out of the three major exporters by Taiwan (China) and United Kingdom in terms of PCs and drivers, and has fallen from the fourth major exporter to the ninth in PCBAs and Ink Boxes, ranking after Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, and Irish.

This is manly because Singapore electronics have a sharply decreased share of exports to the United States, Europe Union and Japan. Asia market (except Japan), however, has become more and more important, which imported electronics from Singapore with an yearly average 11% growth during 1996-2000, and had a total value high up to US$ 19.00 billion by 2000.
Singapore has a future trend of changing to produce high-stage technology-intensive electronics rather than low-stage electronics in the past. As the traditional production means of assembling, etc. no longer complies with the future development of Singapore, the final electronic products and low-stage components will have a further declined share in the export market, whereas the intermediate parts of higher technology will possibly have an increased export share.
7.3.2 Statistics specifications on Singapore infocomm industry
Singapore infocomm industry, not including the production sectors of electronics and semiconductors, refers mainly to those providing directly the infocomm products and services. They have two parts of earnings, one from exports and the other domestic earnings, which are granted by the sales to the final users, with the sales to retailer not included.
1. Statistics on infocomm industry
Singapore Infocomm Industry had a total value of S$26.00 billion in 2000, including the exports and the domestic earnings rather than of the infocomm-related manufacturing industry. With a share of almost one half each, the domestic value accounts for S$13.37 billion and the exports S$12.56 billion. In Singapore infocomm industry, hardware retailing and telecomm are still the first major sources for earnings. Among the total earnings, computer hardware and the related peripheral equipment account for 38%, telecomm 35%, IT service and software 14% and 11% respectively.
2. Growth of infocomm industry
Singapore infocomm industry has a total value of S$20.00 billion in 1998, S$23.3 billion in 1999. And the value in 2000 has a growth.
3. Domestic market
The domestic market has a total value of S$13.37 billion in 2000, 8.5% growth as compared with S$12.32 billion in 1999. It gets 48% contributions from telecomm service, 20% from hardware retailing, 12% from software and 17% from IT service.
4. Exports
Singapore infocomm industry has a total export volume of S$10.92 billion in 2000, 15% growth compared with S$10.92 billion in 1999. Among the total exports, the greatest contribution is owed to computers and telecomm hardware with a 57% share; the next is software and IT service with 21%, and the remaining 21% is from telecomm. The export earnings come mainly from the overseas calls of fixed phones and the communication services for cellular phones. The export growth rate in 2000 is higher than that in 1999, which shows little difference in hardware but exceeds 20% in software/IT service in 2000.
5. Contribution to economy
In 2000, the contribution of Singapore infocomm industry to the whole national economy increased by S$10.9 billion or so, accounting for about 7% in the overall contributions to an increased economic value, based on S$159.00 billion GDP in 2000.
6. R&D input
It is estimated that in 2000 the infocomm industry input about S$0.9 billion in Research and Development (R$D), accounting for 3.5% the total earnings of the whole industry.
7. Forecast
According to the forecast in Singapore Infocomm Industry Survey 2001, Singapore infocomm industry, during 1999-2002, will have an optimistic compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14% and a CAGR 18% for the exports, 14% higher than the domestic market.

The CAGR forecast in the domestic market during 1999-2000 is: 7% hardware, 15% software, 19% IT services, 4% telecomm and 122% online digital intermedia. It is predicted that by 2002 the share of telecomm and hardware in the domestic market will decrease to 42% and 19% respectively; and that IT services and software will have a greater share in the exports, reaching to 19% and 13% respectively.

7.4 IT Application
7.4.1 E-Commerce
Singapore has its special advantages and significances to develop e-Commerce: Singapore plays a pivotal role in financing, trade and communications in the Asia-Pacific and even in the world. Its traditional developed industries such as communications, commercial trade, finance, aviation and shipping laid an essential good foundation for the development of e-Commerce, which in turn will bring a tremendous new opportunity for these traditional state-owned industries to gain new birth and to be well on the way to the world.
In the promotion of e-Commerce, the Singapore Government established at the very beginning a special committee for legalizing Internet transaction, and gave a full cooperation and support for those enterprises with abilities of employing high-speed network technology.
In June 1998, Singapore, beyond example in the world, made a successful test in cross-identification of Government-Government, which enabled businessmen of Singapore and Canada to identify one another online. This fundamental security system was established as an important landmark for Singapore to achieve its central target of e-Commerce.
The implementation of Singapore e-Transaction Decree in September 1998 provided a significant legal frame for e-Transaction and granted a transparent and predictable E-contract and digital signature.
In September 1998, Singapore published Singapore E-Commerce Development Blueprint, with an aim to develop itself into a hub of international e-Commerce. It is planned that e-Commerce will be used in 20% local companies within the following two years and will have a wide use 50% in 2003, with e-Transaction products and services reaching up to S$4.0 billion. Singapore has five development strategies as follows:
--To develop e-Commerce infrastructure in accordance with international standard,
--To develop rapidly Singapore into an e-Commerce hub,
--To encourage and support the use of e-Commerce by enterprises in strategy,
--To promote e-Commerce activities in Public and in Trade,
--To draw up the laws and policies of e-Commerce suitable for transnational transaction.
In November 1998, Singapore National Computer Bureau extended the "Plan on Local Enterprises Computerizing", allocating S$9.00 million to subsidize 500 medium/small companies utilizing e-Commerce. Each company could obtain S$20000.00 to the maximum. By this June, about 170 companies have benefited from this plan.
In February 1999, NCB promulgated CA License Regulations, with an aim to protect the interests of consumers and business organization, to set up the public's faith in e-Transaction and to promote the rapid development of Singapore e-Commerce. It is stipulated that safety e-signature has the same legal binding force as written signature and even more "advanced" than laws in writing, as the tradesman doesn't need to certify the sender of the used safety e-signature in the court. At present, there is only on CA releasing electronic ID in Singapore, which is used by local government authorities and banks as well as Network Users Security Private Co. under the investment of local banks.
In the year 2000, the Singapore Government will allocate S$30 million (US$$1.0≈S$1.75) for the investment of e-Commerce Development Fund in order to encourage the development of e-Commerce by local companies. The funds is made up of two parts. One is mainly for aiding Singapore companies in the development of e-Commerce infrastructure, for which a company can only apply one time with the maximum amount of S$20000. The other is for rendering assistance to the further development of the companies where e-Commerce has been carried out, for which a company can apply for S$500 thousand to the maximum.
In order to reach the goal of building Singapore into a center of Regional e-Commerce, the Singapore Government has worked out four guiding principles for promoting the healthy development of e-Commerce. The details are as follows:
1. The Singapore Government will encourage the researches by the academic, advisory and commercial groups on the promotion of Singapore e-Commerce development. For this purpose, the Singapore Government has formulated the related support policies and offered help in fund for researches.
2. The Singapore Government will encourage the major e-Commerce research institutes to make researches based on Singapore, pay less concern about the particular form and have the most extensive cooperation and exchange with other organizations of e-Commerce research and development in the world, so as to introduce the advanced technology and talented people and enable them to become the promoters in the development of Singapore e-Commerce.
3. Centering on various kinds of problems occurring in e-Commerce development, the Singapore Government will frequently and regularly organize e-Commerce researchers, enterprise's managers and the government people to hold the domestic and international interchange seminar with an aim to avoid detours and timely correct the direction of development.
4. In the course of regional e-Commerce development, Singapore will continue to maintain its dominant position in e-Commerce and bear heavy responsibilities as the leader.

7.4.2 Government Internet-accession
In Singapore, people can fully enjoy the service from the government on the network. For example, the quick services for the public. Through the government network, people can do quite a lot of things such as tax paying, tax returning., lottery drawing, registration of car license, e-Passport tackling, doctor/medicine inquiry, job seeking, school information inquiry, housing buying and selling, and baby-nursing center searching, etc. Government's network not only brings conveniences to the public, but also promotes the development of the domestic economy.
Singapore government on the Internet is built on the electric development application system, and utilizes the high-frequency optic fibre lines of Singapore ONE to transmit quickly and safely quite a number of the government data messages. IT2002 Plan also creates a favorable condition for the development of Singapore e-Government.
In order to advance the government on the Internet, the Singapore Government has taken a series of actions and measures. In the year 1997, Singapore put forward that in the following five years the government could handle 1/4 affairs for the public electronically by telephones, TVs and computers, etc. Prime Minister Chok Tong Goh led all the government of officers of start from themselves to go shopping by Internet and to give responses by e-mail. Each government officer has his or her own e-mail box. At present, Singapore is transferring to fulfill its government service functions (such as driving license requisition and tax paying, etc.) on the Internet.
In order to facilitate the inquiry of the government authorities by the public on the Internet, Singapore has established e-Citizen Center in each community for a more convenient services, and at the same time it has provided more than 20000 sets of public computers for the local people and foreign tourists to enter Internet at any time for inquiring about the relative services of government authorities. Singapore government officers have very high work efficiency. They response to the public by E-main and actively adopt the pubic opinions and suggestions, thus promoting the governmental network construction.
The Singapore Government has the following major experiences in governmental Internet accession:
1. The contents of governmental Internet-accession should be centered on the public and enterprises, and satisfy the public wills and needs;
2. Electronic transmission, as a significantly changed way of government services, requires and efficient and comprehensive guidance;
3. To make full use of various kinds of resource, the government authorities shall work out a good plan and monitor its progress;
4. Along with the changed way of government services, the government authorities at all levels from local to the central government are required to change their operation routines;
5. The transmission of government services requires the cooperation of the Central Government and local governments, private, sectors and international cooperators, instead of carrying out alone.
6. The change of the operating routines for government service transmission relies on the IT capacity in all departments, so its is important to strengthen training men for profession.
7.4.3 Home application
By 2000, there are 61% families in Singapore possessing at least one computer in their home. In comparison, the figure in other countries and regions is: 51% United States, 50% Hong Kong, 56% Australia. 23.4% families in Singapore own at least two computers in their home. Among the families without computer, only 12% plan to buy computers within the future three years, in which 64% families buy computers for the education of their children, 46% for Internet-accession. 50% families in Singapore have their computers accession to Internet. Such high ratio of accession to Internet is mainly caused by the cheap dialup tariff, the popular application of Internet and the promotion of Government. Compared with other countries and regions, the above ratio of home computer's access to Internet is 42% in United States, 35% United Kingdom, 36% Hong Kong and 37% Australia. Among the families with computers in Singapore, there is only 18% don't have their computers access to Internet, in which 41% think it unnecessary t do so. Internet application consists of two major modes, one is "knowing", i.e. knowing Internet has this function; the other is "utilizing", i.e. utilizing this function. The following figure shows the investigation in 2000.
7.4.4 Communications
It deserves to be mentioned that the Singapore Government has promoted "ERP" (Electronic Rord Pricing) in communication. By applying for through Internet, People can obtain ERP intelligent cards in the short run. With a card in hand, people can pay for passage with the occurred fee deduced automatically from the card, which doubles the management efficiency of the government in communication.