IDA is planning to provide a National Broadband Network (NBN) that promises up to 1 Gigabit per sec. bandwidth to half of Singapore by 2012. An island wide increase in bandwidth will be available by 2015. There’s a reason why I highlighted NBN and I’ll explain this later.
The first time when I saw this news, I was kind of skeptical. 1 Gbps is really a huge bandwidth to offer to everyone. Expecting 1 Gbps download speed from all servers is IMPOSSIBLE. Firstly, the intended use of transferring huge files around in the network will cause lots of congestion, thus slow download speeds. Unless a better congestion control (than what we have now) is put into place, getting a constant 1 Gbps is nearly impossible.
On top of that, how many of you have hit your theoretical maximum bandwidth (mine is 3Mbps) when you download from overseas servers? Majority users have complained that overseas download speed sucks. I would agree too! This is something that local ISPs cannot control. Congestion outside the national network is a headache for local ISPs. Well, they could lay their own underwater fibres which is not cost effective at all. Thus, do not be foolish into thinking that you’ll get 1 Gbps from overseas servers.
However, when I read the news again, I realised that this move is intended for a National Broadband Network (compare it to international broadband network). This means that you may have 1 Gbps when served by local servers/peers but not from international servers. Then again, you might not get the full theoratical amount all the time, as explained above.
Although it could be difficult to get maximum bandwidth, there are benefits from the ultra high bandwidth internet access. Firstly, you will see more internet telephony or video services. You can expect better (smoother) video conferencing within the network, faster file transfers between peers in local networks and newer applications that use large bandwidths will benefit from the 1 Gbps network.
I’d say that overall, it is a great idea. However, I’m kind of skeptical on the level of service/delivery it will provide for all users (seeing the level of service all ISPs is providing now).
12 responses so far ↓
1 hanneng // Dec 12, 2007 at 1:47 pm
if more people or business build contents locally, eg: hosting their media, data or services in Singapore, then we would be benefits using the big pipe.
2 zs // Dec 13, 2007 at 12:07 am
2012/2015 is a very long way from now at the rate that technology progresses. By then, 1Gbps could be “nothing”. We could even be doing 1Gbps wirelessly everywhere before then.
3 networker // Dec 13, 2007 at 1:57 am
National is the word. They can claim the GB network is up already and for those who want it, pay this (huge?) amount first.
Oh, no one gig on your side, then it is your equipment having problems. Remember that most home routers and NICs handle 100 Megabits/sec only. Buy and buy first, pay and pay first.
If local content is located in overseas servers (cheaper?), then we are back to square one.
4 Aen // Dec 13, 2007 at 5:50 am
They should get basic things right before they go further. What’s point of even a 10 Terabyte connection when it disconnects every 10 minutes? Even if they can fix that, what good would a fast local network do when the gigajority of our access is to overseas?
Singapore… LOL…
5 NTT // Dec 13, 2007 at 8:06 am
Great writeup.. Another point to consider is what of the last mile connectivity? They can pump up the backbone to 1GB or whatever they promise, but how can each individual connect to that backbone? The current last mile implementations, DSL and Cable, cant really support dedicated 1GB.. We just have to wait and watch I guess..
6 Daily SG: 13 Dec 2007 « The Singapore Daily // Dec 13, 2007 at 11:12 am
[…] the universe and everything - techi-talks: Ultra High Broadband access by 2012 — Stuffs you need to be aware of! - The Pro Bono Columnist: My religion, ZoukOut 2007 - Nites out on the Town: The Click 5 […]
7 The Singapore Daily // Dec 13, 2007 at 11:17 am
Good info. I’ve featured this at The Singapore Daily [singaporedaily.wordpress.com]. Keep blogging!
8 firdooze // Dec 13, 2007 at 6:55 pm
@hanneng: yes! It will definitely be good if the ISPs change some of the policies that prevents us from setting up personal home servers (not that we can’t but upload speed sucks).
@Aen: I totally agree! But the intention of this UHB seems to benefit more on local businesses or MNC/TNC in Singapore. I’m quite skeptical when it comes to benefiting the common man. Firstly, like you said, we do most of our downloads from overseas servers. Secondly, I’m not really sure that people would want to pay more $$ for UHB (assuming that 1Gbps will cost a bomb). To me, 10Mbps is already awesome and half of the time, I don’t even get the full promised speed.
9 firdooze // Dec 13, 2007 at 7:20 pm
@NTT & networker:
I guess hardware issue isn’t much of a problem. They can always bundle a Gigabit NIC to subscribers (PCI or USB?) or throw in some crappy computer deal with a Gigabit NIC pre-installed.
And I’m not really sure what cable they are using down there but I have this feeling that more re-cabling works will need to be done when this is implemented. ADSL/ADSL2+ will definitely be unsupported (ADSL2+ max = 24Mbps).
I guess we have to wait and see. I’m just hoping that IDA is not throwing its cards too often. First the “not-so-great” Wireless@SG implementation, an attempt towards a wireless municipal network. Now this. Shouldn’t they tie up the loose ends on one first and then proceed to another big project?
10 YoungJedi // Dec 13, 2007 at 8:14 pm
I must say 1Gigabit is definately an improvement. Currently the highest is StarHub’s Maxonline 100Mbps. Throughput to oversea is always not as ideal, reason being - distance. You will still need to go through submarine cables to reach, say US public internet server (unless you have a private leased lines). It will be interesting to see how government is going to overcome this.
11 NTT // Dec 13, 2007 at 9:00 pm
I wasn’t refering to the networks within our houses. For those, yea.. Gigabit Ethernet should work.. or 802.11n etc..
The last mile is the connection between your house and the backbone… Like you say, ADSL2+ is only 24Mbps.. And there is no other widespread technology which can replace that and give something near to 1GB dedicated.. So what wil IDA do?
As for wireless@sg… I’d say just wait and watch.. they will tie up the loose ends soon..
12 chrischoo // Dec 14, 2007 at 12:06 am
I don’t expect a big change given the current national backbone and inter-ISP connectivity issues. ISPs have no incentive to provide residential broadband subscribers the capability to transfer files at gigabit speeds. An enhanced national backbone requires content to go with it or there wouldn’t be any return on their investment. Let’s wait and see what happens…
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