Singapore Gears Up For Wireless Broadband Innovation

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) today announced the allocation of dedicated spectrum bands for trials and commercial deployment of wireless broadband1. This move is timely as various wireless broadband technologies are now ready for trial or deployment. When deployed, these new technologies could provide Singapore with an additional broadband infrastructure, thus giving consumers more choices and options when going "broadband".

Singapore will dedicate the 2.3 GHz and 2.5 GHz spectrum bands for wireless broadband deployment in Singapore. Companies interested to conduct trials for wireless broadband technologies in Singapore can approach IDA for details2. IDA will also be seeking industry and public inputs soon on developments of wireless broadband, to better position Singapore to capture business opportunities in new areas.

The latest development is aligned to Singapore's goal to become Asia's living lab for wireless innovation. According to Visant Strategies3, the wireless broadband market was worth US$3 billion in 2003, and will grow to US$10 billion in 2006, and US$20 billion in 2008.

"Singapore, as Asia's living lab for wireless innovation, is now ready for wireless broadband, with the availability of spectrum. We invite players all around the world to come to Singapore, where we welcome and encourage innovations in wireless broadband activities," says Mrs. Tan Ching Yee, Chief Executive Officer of IDA.

Singapore's wireless broadband spectrum allocation exercise strengthens the country's offerings as Asia's centre for wireless innovation.

Its world-class infrastructure is backed by 21 terabits per second of high-speed submarine capacity, international and regional telecoms connectivity to more than 100 countries, and direct Internet connectivity to more than 30 countries. Singapore is also Asia's first Neutral Peering Point for GPRS roaming since 2003.

Apart from its infrastructural strengths, Singapore's IT-savvy population is a ready pool of testers for wireless technologies. According to a study conducted by AT Kearney and the University of Cambridge in March 2002, Singapore has one of the world's highest short-messaging-service (SMS) users at 52%, ahead of the global average of 23%. It is also the first country to achieve interoperability amongst its operators for services such as SMS and multimedia-messaging-service (MMS). Today, its mobile phone penetration rates stand at 83%, and two out of five4 or 1.24 million Singaporeans are broadband users.

As part of its wireless promotion efforts, IDA also led a delegation of local wireless players to the premier 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, France from 23 to 26 February 2004.

In a showcase of local innovation, the Singapore Pavilion at 3GSM 2004 will feature ClearHub, I'M Technologies, Innvo System, Java Wireless Competency Centre (JWCC), Mikoishi, Talaria, Ufinity and Wireless Intellect Labs. For more details on Singapore's participating companies, please refer to the attached Annex.

Some of the local innovations showcased at the Singapore Pavilion include:

• Cross Platform entertainment content and lifestyle/messaging products for mobile networks and handsets by Mikoishi.
• 3G USIM card as well as micro-browser SIM card that allows Internet downloads onto the GSM handset by I'M Technologies
• Comprehensive content quality assurance management system and instant messaging solution infrastructure by JWCC.
• Mobile messaging and browsing products on OEMs/ODMs handset platforms by Innvo Systems.

The IDA Singapore booth is located at Hall 2, Booth F5a.

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ISSUED BY CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIVISION
INFOCOMM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE

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Notes to Editors:

¹ A wireless broadband network, typically operating at frequency bands under 6 GHz, provides broadband access at speeds of 256 kbps and above, to both mobile users and fixed locations. Each base station generally serves an area of up to several square kilometres. Examples of such wireless broadband systems are those based on the IEEE 802.16 and IEEE 802.20 standards.

² More details on conducting trials in Singapore, please visit the IDA website.

³ "802.16/WiMAX Global Opportunities for Chipsets, Equipment and Services," Visant Strategies, 2003.

⁴ According to IDA's Annual Survey on Broadband and Wireless Usage in Singapore, 2002, two out of five or 1.24 million Singaporeans are broadband users.

Supplementary Information:

Please refer to IDA's Media Portal at IMDA website for a brief introduction to Wireless Broadband and an Overview of Spectrum Management in Singapore.

About Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) develops, promotes and regulates info-communications in Singapore, with the aim of establishing Singapore as one of the world's premier infocomm capitals. To nurture an internationally competitive infocomm industry, IDA offers a comprehensive range of programmes and schemes for both local and international companies. For more information, visit IMDA website.

For media clarifications, please contact:

Ms Stella Wong

Senior Manager, Corporate Communication
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Tel: (65) 6211-1815
Fax: (65) 6211-2227
Email: stella_wong@imda.gov.sg
Ms Noraizah Zainal Abidin

Assistant Manager, Corporate Communication
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Fax: (65) 6211-2227
Email: noraizah@imda.gov.sg

Annex
Singapore Wireless Players at 3GSM World Congress 2004

Clearhub Pte Ltd

Clearhub is a global Mobile Data Exchange Hub specialising in the seamless delivery of mobile messaging connecting mobile operators, enterprises and value-added service providers. Clearhub's open-architecture, modular, flexible Messaging platform enables interactive and efficient value chains by providing a real-time link between all players within. Clearhub's advantage is its positioning as a neutral and independent hub with services that include InterCarrier Messaging, ClearPortal - Branded Web Messaging service for both enterprises and consumers, VAS Exchange services. With enabling web-based applications, it offers true access exchange capabilities in the most cost-effective and efficient manner in the industry today. Please visit us at www.clearhub.com.

For more information, please contact:
Ms Chan Poh Leng
Product Marketing Manager
Tel: (65) 6225-3833
Email : press@clearhub.com

I'M Technologies Ltd

Formed in August 2000, I'M Technologies has a geographic presence in the Asia-Pacific region through its offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong and India.
I'M Technologies supplies 2GSM SIM Cards, 3GSM USIM and CDMA2000 R-UIM to mobile operators. Its product range includes card boasting 8KB to 128KB memory sizes, with generic to open platform operating system and other applications.

Currently, the Company's smart card technologies are used by more than 20 mobile telecommunications operators in countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Russia, United Arab Emirates and South Africa.

I'M Technologies takes part actively in the specification meetings in ETSI, 3GPP and 3GPP2 to drive the future technologies in wireless identification technology.

For more information, please contact:
Mr Henny Ngim
Executive Director
Tel: (65) 9128-9660
Email: henny.ngim@imcorporation.com

Innvo Systems Pte Ltd

Innvo Systems is a provider of MMS Client, Mobile Browser and Java (superscript: TM) solutions for handset OEMs and ODMs.
Innvo Systems have in-depth experience working with Tier 2 & 3 OEMs and ODMs as well as leading baseband chipset vendors to offer the most integrated and cost effective solutions to the market. We are a one-stop software solution provider for Tier 2 & 3 OEM's/ODM's feature phone requirements.

Innvo Systems business is to license their Aurora Mobile Browser, Multimedia Messenger, Java Virtual Machine and integrated application suite to equipment manufacturers who build their own devices. For more information, please visit www.innvo.com

For more information, please contact:
Ms Joyce Lim
Corporate Marketing Manager
Tel: (65) 9040-1662
Email: joyce.lim@innvo.com

Java Wireless Competency Centre (JWCC)

The Java Wireless Competency Centre (JWCC) is an initiative to develop and promote the wireless applications and services industry. Together with its commercial partner, Global Mobility, JWCC focuses on wireless application quality assurance and certification, and developer community management.
JWCC also specialize in nurturing developers and developer communities, by providing technical consultancy, wireless test-beds, and wireless testing capability. As well, we are involved in developer training, awareness and speciality events, and can work with customers to set up wireless developer hubs and test labs.

For more information, please contact:
Mr Gavin Ang
Development Manager
Tel: (65) 9622-5811
Email: gavin@jwcc.net

Mikoishi (Asia) Pacific Pte Ltd

Mikoishi (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd is an entertainment software company based in Singapore. A producer of cross-platform entertainment content; primarily mass-multiplayer games and lifestyle/messaging products for mobile networks and handsets.

Mikoishi also collaborates with brand, operator and online gaming partners to produce exclusive content formats that deliver a unique and highly compelling entertainment experience to end users.

Mikoishi's content formats enable partners to build lucrative communities and derive revenue through network game-play, game/in-game sponsorship and subscription billing models.

Mikoishi currently produces original titles in both English and Chinese; predominantly for North and South-east Asia, the fastest growing online and mobile entertainment markets in the world.

For more information, please contact:
Ms Amy Chang
Director
Tel: (65) 9668-2901
Email: amy@mikoishi.com

TalariaX Pte Ltd

TalariaX Pte Ltd is a Singapore based company focuses on developing and delivering wireless applications to the marketplace. It was formed by a team with vast experience in Internet, mobile, paging and messaging areas. The company has clients in Southeast Asia and collaboration partners in Asia and Europe. TalariaX focus on delivering relevant and value enhancing applications to the marketplace. Our product, sendQuick SMS Server, has been well received by companies in Singapore and Southeast Asia. sendQuick is an appliance server that is plug-&-play and easy to deploy, enhancing business value to our customers.

For more information, please contact:
Mr Wong Jeat Shyan
CEO
Tel: (65) 9636-7680
Email: jswong@talariax.com

Ufinity Pte Ltd

Ufinity is a leading provider of Identity Management (IdM) technology and Mobile solutions. Ufinity's IdM solution RightAccessT provides a scalable framework for mobile operators to unify data services, through ease of user management. RightMME - Ufinity's mobile messaging solution is designed to increase subscriber consumption of multimedia mobile content.
Headquartered in Singapore, Ufinity has an established network of regional resellers that actively promotes our products in countries such as China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand and many more. Whilst the company has a strong focus on the needs of the telco and media industry, it is our mission to provide enterprises from all verticals (especially growth markets like the financial and healthcare sectors) with superior yet cost-effective identity management and mobile solutions that surpasses all current and future offerings in the market.

For more information, please contact:

Mr KOH Lian Hock

Executive Director

Tel: (65) 9637-4466

Email: lian-hock.koh@ufinity.com

Wireless Intellect Labs (WIL)

Wireless Intellect Labs (WIL) is the R&D arm of Singapore's most innovative mobile operator, MobileOne (M1), and works on near-to-mid-term technologies of commercial relevance to mobile operators.

WIL flagship product, Permodia, enables WAP / MMS / mobile-video access to millions of webcams around the world. The product is being used by telcos in Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia to offer their subscribers access to traffic cameras, surf / snow cameras, child-care centres, and even to easily set up their own home security cameras with motion detection and streaming video.

As a telco-owned company, WIL is well positioned to work on technologies at the switch level and are eager to work with product companies around the world to help translate your innovative ideas into tangible technologies.

For more information, please contact:

Mr Varun Arora

General Manager

Tel: (65) 9681-2884

Email: varun@wilabs.com