Phasing Out of Analogue Telephone Services

Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for Communications and Information (MCI) (a) if telecommunication service providers are currently still obliged to provide quality services for analogue telephone service users; and (b) if he will provide an update on how the Ministry is working with service providers to prepare the population to adopt digital services while analogue ones are phased out.

All telephone operators in Singapore must comply with the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA)'s Quality of Service standards, regardless of whether the service they offer is an analogue or digital one.

SingTel is the only operator that continues to provide residential analogue telephone services, in addition to its digital option. As the copper-based infrastructure supporting these analogue services may deteriorate with age, some end-users may encounter service faults. There may also be faults with the user's phone equipment or the in-house copper wiring. Such end-users can approach SingTel to ascertain the root of the problem. IDA will also be willing to assist where required.

There are still about 620,000 residential subscribers of analogue telephone services. SingTel has not notified IDA of any plans to phase out these services. Hence, IDA will continue to ensure that SingTel fulfils its obligations as a provider of such services and that it meets the Quality of Service standards.

The public does not need to wait for analogue services to be phased out before adopting newer digital services. IDA has launched several programmes to help inform the public of new digital options. IDA's new Digital Inclusion Fund, which I announced earlier this year, will also offer subsidised broadband access and devices to low-income families. With a high quality broadband connection, households will also have the option of converting to digital voice calls.

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IDA has taken steps to ensure that infrastructure into new homes are able to fully support digital services. IDA's revised Code of Practice for Infocomm Facilities in Buildings (COPIF) will apply to buildings which are granted permission for construction from 1 May 2013. With this, new homes will no longer be pre-installed with copper wiring. Instead, they will be provided with "Category 6" cabling. These cables can carry data speeds of more than 1 Gigabit per second and support a wide range of digital services.

My Ministry is committed to do all it can so that no one is left behind in the move to digital services.