StarHub wins a key role in Singapore's next-gen access rollout plan, plus other news from India and elsewhere in the Asia/Pacific region

April 3, 2009

5 Min Read
AsiaWatch: StarHub Lands NGN Role

Further developments at Singapore's next-generation access network, a new mobile infrastructure deal in India, next-generation videoconferencing in the Philippines, and a transpacific 40-Gbit/s transport demonstration lead the latest news roundup from the Asia/Pacific region.

StarHub lands OpCo gig in Singapore
StarHub , which operates cable and mobile networks in Singapore, has landed a key role in the development of the island state's next-generation fixed access network, which, if everything goes to plan, will provide every home and business across the island with a fiber connection by 2015. (See StarHub Wins OpCo Deal.)

The FTTH plan, overseen by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) , involves a three-layered model: a "NetCo," to design, build, and operate the passive infrastructure; a "OpCo," to deploy network infrastructure (routers, switches) and act as a wholesaler of broadband capacity; and multiple retail service providers that will all use the same underlying physical infrastructure. (See Singapore Unveils Digital Hub Vision.)

OpenNet, a consortium in which Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (SingTel) (OTC: SGTJY) holds a 30 percent stake, won the NetCo tender in September last year. (See OpenNet Scores Singapore Deal.)

Now StarHub, which currently provides high-speed mobile and a full range of cable services to Singaporeans, has been chosen as the OpCo, and has been awarded a 25-year operating license. (See StarHub Picks Moto for VOD, StarHub, Huawei Launch HSPA+ Net, and StarHub Launches 3G Femto Service.)

To meet the IDA's requirements, the operator is creating a wholly owned subsidiary, called Nucleus Connect, to act as the OpCo, and plans to start commercial operations early in 2010. StarHub believes that, depending on OpenNet's progress in building out the passive infrastructure, 95 percent of Singapore's homes and offices could have 1-Gbit/s broadband by June 2012.

The subsidiary will also build an applications test lab that will allow retail service providers to trial their services over the new broadband network before commercial launch.

StarHub, which plans to invest S$100 million (US$66.5 million) in Nucleus Connect, which is eligible for a S$250 million (US$166 million) grant from the Singaporean government, estimates that the subsidiary will likely invest $1 billion (US$665 million) in the active access network during the next 25 years.

Loop preps network build in India
Loop Telecom, which was awarded a license to operate in 21 of India's 22 circles (service areas) in January 2008, has chosen ZTE Corp. (Shenzhen: 000063; Hong Kong: 0763) to supply GSM core and access infrastructure for its network rollout, according to this CIOL report and many other reports from the Indian business press. (See A Guide to India's Telecom Operators.)

Financial details weren't disclosed, so it's hard to know how much this deal might boost ZTE's international revenues this year, or whether ZTE has agreed to a vendor financing deal with Loop Telecom using some of the $15 billion credit line the vendor recently secured. Under that credit agreement, the China Development Bank has agreed to provide loans to network operators so they can buy ZTE equipment. (See ZTE Secures $15B, Highlights R&D.)

Loop Telecom's license doesn't allow it to operate in the Mumbai metro, but that's because its majority owner, BPL Mobile , is already active there, with more than 2 million customers. BPL, by the way, recently rebranded itself as Loop Mobile. That shouldn't confuse matters...

TelePresence heads to the Philippines
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) has struck a deal with Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) and Tata Communications Ltd. to bring TelePresence services to Philippine businesses. (See Philippines Gets TelePresence.)

PLDT is setting up a Public TelePresence Studio that will connect to Tata's public TelePresence rooms in India (Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Gurgaon), London, and Boston. It will also link to Cisco's Public TelePresence Suite in Santa Clara, Calif. (See Cisco Opens TelePresence and Tata Touts Telepresence.)

Tyco hits 40 Gbit/s across the Pacific
Tyco Telecommunications says it has successfully transmitted a 40-Gbit/s signal across a 11,000 kilometer link on Tata Communications's transpacific TGN network between Japan and the U.S. without the need for signal regeneration. (See Tyco Demos Undersea 40G.)

Tyco says a 40Gbit/s signal was transmitted across two segments of Tata's TGN network for a total of 11,000 kilometers of "undersea repeatered cable without regeneration. The path ran error-free over the entire three day measurement period," according to the subsea networks specialist.

"We view this development as a significant milestone in the evolution of undersea cable transmission capability," stated Dr. Seymour Shapiro, CTO at Tyco Telecom in a prepared statement. "40-Gbit/s transmission is clearly the next standard for long-haul transmission, including undersea."

Satyam saga rolls on
Satyam Computer Services Ltd. (NYSE: SAY) has decided it wants to modify the bidding process that will determine which company buys a majority stake in the troubled Indian IT services firm.

Basically, Satyam is looking for a third-party investor to buy a 51 percent stake, and initiated a bidding process. (See IndiaWatch: Money Matters and IndiaWatch: Game-Changin' Days.)

Now it wants to extend the process if the highest bids are within 10 percent of each other. Check out this Economic Times story for a detailed explanation of the ongoing affair. Bids are due in by April 9.

Other recent news from the Asia/Pacific region includes:

  • Indian Tribunal Orders Spectrum Return

  • China Unicom Plans Massive Capex Hike

  • Chunghwa Rides High in Taiwan

  • SK Uses AlcaLu's Routers

  • Telstra Launches T-Suite

  • SeaChange Scores in India

  • Moto Wins Korean Docsis Deal

  • SingTel Secures Credit

  • NSN Opens Service Center in Delhi

  • Nokia Lands China Deal

  • CSL Launches HSPA+

  • ZTE Wins in Malaysia

  • China Mobile's Ahead of Schedule

— Ray Le Maistre, International News Editor, Light Reading

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