SINGAPORE

"Ubiquitous Network Societies: The case of the Republic of Singapore," by Eric Lie, presented at an ITU Workshop on Ubiquitous Network Societies, 6-8 April 2005 in Geneva:

"In order to increase the deployment of WLAN networks and boost coverage of WLAN networks, IDA continues to pursue a favorable licence-exempt spectrum policy. In Singapore, licence-exempt WLAN services can be provided in the 2.4GHz (2400 - 2483.5MHz) and 5GHz (5150-5250 MHz and 5725-5850 MHz) bands. In February 2004, IDA increased the bandwidth for WLAN in the 5GHz band by making the adjacent 5250-5350 MHz frequency band available for WLAN deployment with a power limit of 200 mW. In October 2004, it increased power output limitations for the 2.4GHz band from 100mW to 200mW in order to allow operators to achieve wider WLAN coverage with less equipment...

"IDA has taken an aggressive role in accelerating the process of RFID adoption by creating an internal team of RFID evangelists dedicated to the promotion and adoption of RFID technologies... Singapore's Electronic Road Pricing System (ERP) is the first in the world to use RFID technology to effectively track and manage road traffic volume at different times of the day. This traffic management tool is effectively an electronic toll system that deducts a prescribed road use fee from a stored value smart card inserted in a RFID based in-vehicle unit... The use of automated RFID-based parking systems is widespread in Singapore. Leveraging on the ubiquity of in-vehicle RFID units in vehicles in Singapore, a large number of car parks in Singapore, both public and private, are equipped with automatic gates outfitted with RFID readers that can detect the IUs and deduct parking fees from the inserted CashCards... On a smaller scale, motorists in Singapore have been able to purchase petroleum using an RFID-based automated payment system using vehicle-mounted or key mounted transponder tags at all ExxonMobil filling stations since 2001. An RFID reader integrated in the pump reads the unique identification code on the transponder tag that is linked to the customer's payment account for billing purposes...

"Currently, different countries have allocated different radio spectrum frequency bands for RFID applications (e.g. North America - 902 - 928MHz, Europe/Singapore - 866 - 869MHz, Japan/Korea - 950 - 956MHz). In order to ensure RFID interoperability with Singapore's major export markets - the United States and Europe - IDA realigned its spectrum bands allocated for the deployment of RFID applications. In October 2004, the spectrum for RFID applications in Singapore was set at 866-869 MHz and 923-925 MHz in the UHF bands. The licence-exempt power limit for both bands was also increased from 0.01W to 0.5W, while the power limit for the 923-925 MHz band was increased to 2W for RFID devices only. The 915MHz frequency, which is widely used in the US for RFID applications, is currently used for GSM services in Singapore...

"In its efforts to promote wireless technology research and development, IDA has also paid particular attention to the development of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. In May 2003, it launched a UWB programme aimed at bringing activities surrounding the technology to Singapore. Under the programme, industry interest in UWB is encouraged by the setting up of a UWB-Friendly Zone. Within this designated zone, developers are given significant latitude to experiment with new and innovative UWB technical designs..."
"Spectrum Management in Singapore," (3 February 2004) - press release with spectrum chart.
"IDA Opens 2.4 GHz Spectrum Band For Short Range Devices" - Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) news release, 8 October 2001.
"IDA makes wireless networks cheaper" by Amit Roy Choudhury, Business Times, 21 January 2005 (via ITAsiaOne): the power output permitted for license-exempt WLANs has been raised from 100 to 200 mW in the 2.4 GHz band, and from 100 mW to 1000 mW in the 5.8 GHz band.
Singapore offering free WiFi "almost everywhere." 11 October 2006.
" Singapore's Muni Wi-Fi Network Exceeds 1,000 Mesh Nodes," Converge Digest, 17 April 2007.
"Wireless in Singapore," Channel News Asia, 9 July 2007: ""...It's the all part of the 10-year infocomm masterplan, known as iN2015 or Intelligent Nation 2005. One of the bedrocks of the masterplan is the Next Generation Nation Incomm Infrastructure project. It is hoped that the project will set the stage for a whole new digital world of possibilities and opportunities by 2015. One of the possibilities that has already taken root through the masterplan is the Wireless@SG network. It is powered by the network of 3 wireless operators; iCell, Omax and SingTel, and offers a wireless broadband network at some 3,400 hotspots (and growing) around Singapore. Those who sign up with any of the operators get to enjoy free, seamless, wireless, broadband access, both indoors and outdoors, with speeds up to 512kbps in most public areas. To date, more than 420,000 subscribers have been enjoying this always-on free connections to the Internet through hot spots spread across the island..."
"Wireless piggybacking case sets precedent: experts," by Rachel Lim, Agence France Presse (via The Age, 26 March 2007: "When 17-year-old Garyl Tan Jia Luo piggybacked on his neighbour's unsecured wireless Internet network to chat online, he could not have imagined that in doing so he would make Asian legal history. Information technology (IT) experts and lawyers say Tan was the first in Singapore, and possibly Asia, to be sentenced in court for 'wireless mooching,' or piggybacking on an unsecured wireless network to surf the Internet. A judge in the city-state's district court sentenced him to 18 months' probation in January... The Singapore case may set a precedent in Asia and 'open the floodgates for similar prosecutions,' said Aloysious Cheang, president of the Special Interest Group in Security and Information Integrity, a Singapore information and communications security association. Moochers make up an estimated five to 10 percent of the region's wireless traffic at any time, said Bernie Trudel, principal security consultant at network firm Cisco Systems Asia Pacific..."
"45,000 sign up for free wireless Internet service," by Adeline Chia and Teh Joo Lin, Straits Times, 2 December 2006: "About 45,000 people signed up to surf the Net at 600 Wi-Fi hot spots around Singapore yesterday, the first day of a free wireless Internet service that will last three years. The service, called Wireless@SG, is being run by three operators -- SingTel, QMax Communications and iCell Network..."
"Singapore: Lessons Learned in Municipal Wireless Deployment," Firetide Inc., June 2007.
IDA's Radio Spectrum Master Plan and "Short-Range Devices" (from Singapore's Spectrum Management Handbook): "Generally, short range devices are exempted from licensing if the transmitter output power is below the maximum approved field strength..."
"Technical Specification for Short Range Devices," IDA, 1 December 2004.
Asia Telecommunication Newsletter, 23 May 2003. From the US State Department: "The use of Wi-fi equipment without a license is subject to the following conditions: a) equipment must be IDA type-approved models; b) it is for intra-corporate usage only; and c) the frequency bands and transmission power must be in accordance to those set out in the Telecommunications (Radio-Communications) Regulations 2002. Licensing is required for the use of Wi-fi systems if: a) there is carriage of third-party traffic; b) it is not for localized usage... In addition, if there is carriage of third-party traffic and/or construction of telecommunication infrastructure, the appropriate services-based or facilities-based operator license may be required..."
"The Broadcasting (Class Licence) Notification," Singapore Media Development Authority. Originally adopted in 1996 (without public debate) and updated in 2001 and 2003, this says Internet access services and content are "licensable" in Singapore as a form of broadcasting. Everyone providing such services is automatically subject to a "class license" which requires them to comply with Singapore's "Internet Code of Practice." Among other things, this Code forbids the provision of access to material "objectionable on the grounds of public interest, public morality, public order, public security, [or] national harmony..." According to Paragraph 15 of the Notification, every licensee must "ensure that its service is not used to advertise, provide or otherwise promote astrology, geomancy; palmistry; or any other type of fortune-telling device; ...ensure that any professional advice... offered on its service is offered by persons with qualifications recognised by the relevant professional bodies in Singapore; ... ensure that only films and video recordings that are approved by the Board of Film Censors are broadcast... " etc. In addition, licensees need to register with the Government if they are "Individuals, groups, organisations [or] corporations engaged in providing any programme for the propagation, promotion or discussion of political or religious issues relating to Singapore on the World Wide Web..."
Sybase opens wireless R&D center in S'pore," by Lynn Tan, ZDNet Asia, 15 March 2007: "...Built at a cost of about US$1.5 million, the new research facility will focus on several areas including mobile middleware, Bluetooth, and RFID (radio frequency identification)..."
"Singapore Fights SARS with RFID," RFID Journal, 4 June 2003: "Radio frequency identification is playing a role in the global fight to contain Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS. Two hospitals in Singapore are now testing an RFID system that tracks the movement of staff, visitors and patients so they can trace all of the people with whom a suspected SARS patient had contact..."
"Singapore UWB Programme Framework," by Dr. Tan Geok Leng, IDA, 3 March 2003: In 2003, IDA started issuing experimental UWB licenses for operation in the 2.2-10.6 GHz region. The UWB license imposes an emissions "mask" 6dB above the level permitted by the FCC's Part 15 regulations, but limits all tests to a "UWB Friendly Zone" in Science Park 2 - a zone that existed until 25 February 2005. No "type approval" for equipment, but must be non-interfering and enjoys no interference protection. See the presentations from the UWB in Singapore Seminar 2004 for reports on research activities under this programme.
According to a consultation paper issued by Brunei's regulatory authority, Singapore allocated 446.0 - 446.1 MHz for public use of low power (0.5 watt EIRP) "walkie talkies" on an unlicensed basis at the end of 2003.

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