3G Broadband Coverage on MRT Trains

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts (a) how does IDA track the telcos' 3G mobile broadband coverage on MRT trains to ensure that they meet the required quality of service (QoS) standards; (b) what were the actual measured 3G mobile broadband service levels on MRT trains in the latest month with available measured data; and (c) whether IDA has plans to publish the actual measured service levels on a regular basis.

The Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien) (for the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts): Mr Speaker, Sir, IDA recently enhanced the Quality of Service (QoS) framework for 3G mobile telephone services, to ensure better mobile coverage for consumers. For existing MRT tunnels, the QoS standard has been enhanced from an average of 95% service coverage across all existing roads and tunnels to a specific 95% service coverage within each MRT tunnel. New MRT tunnels to be built also face a more stringent service coverage standard, such that the service coverage in each of the new tunnels must be more than 99%. These revised standards for MRT tunnels will take place from 1 April 2012 onwards.

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Mobile telephone operators are required to measure their performance and submit quarterly reports to IDA. IDA also conducts independent audit and measurements of the mobile operators' QoS performances regularly. So far, operators have met the existing QoS standard of an average of more than 95% service coverage across all tested roads and tunnels.

Currently, IDA publishes the operators' performance for outdoor coverage on an annual basis. Going forward, IDA intends to publish the operators' performance for MRT tunnel coverage as well.

Separately, IDA has not set QoS standards for broadband speeds, whether it is for fixed or mobile broadband services. This is because broadband speeds are affected by a myriad of factors which may be beyond the operators' control. Mobile broadband services are further affected by factors, such as the type of handsets used and the number of concurrent users at that location at the time of usage. IDA is currently studying the feasibility of imposing a QoS framework for mobile broadband services. In the interim, IDA will require broadband service providers to publish the typical download speeds likely to be experienced by end users from 1 April 2012 onwards.

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Non-Constituency Member): Mr Speaker, I thank the Senior Minister of State for her response. I understand the difficulties in providing for the mobile broadband coverage because of the differences in handsets and other equipment. But is the Senior Minister of State aware that the 3G mobile broadband coverage on many parts of the North-South and East-West Lines and even on stretches that are above ground are a lot less reliable than on the North-East Line and the Circle Line which are underground? So what accounts for this poorer level of service on the North-South-East-West Lines?

My second question is, for the 95% or the soon to be 99% in April, does this number only cover roads, or does it also cover the MRT lines that are above ground which may not necessarily be along the road? And, lastly, does the Government consider 3G connectivity on MRT trains to be just a nice to have for recreational Internet surfing or is it an important tool for business either now or in the future?

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. As far as the reports that we are receiving at IDA, the service level that we have received so far has been good. Right now, under our regulatory framework, the service providers are supposed to capture the signals at various points of the tunnels, including platforms, including above-ground tracks, and they have moved in two directions so as to have a more reflective measurements of the performance of the system. And our data so far showed that the data has actually been quite satisfactory. So I am not sure how the Member has arrived at that conclusion. For the second question about the roads, whether we are just measuring MRT tunnels or include MRT tracks above ground, as I mentioned earlier, our operators are required to capture the entire train service on the move in both directions. So that would include above-ground tracks as well. We view the Internet and the communications facilities as an important part of Singapore's competitiveness in attracting business, and that is the reason that we have invested heavily to improve the service provision and also improve the infrastructure and get ourselves ready for the future.

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Er Dr Lee Bee Wah: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State two supplementary questions. What she mentioned just now was on outdoor coverage. Are there such regulatory requirements on the operators for indoor coverage? I have a lot of residents who have shifted into the newly completed BTO flats and they complain that they do not have mobile coverage in their own flats. The second question is: the operator said that it would take about a year to rectify such problems. Is that a normal time frame? Is it possible to do it faster?

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. I believe that these relate to a different aspect of the coverage from the question that was asked. It is relating to outdoor coverage within buildings. That is a separate service level required. It is not subject to the same 95%. In fact, it is 85% for the simple reason that in order for the operators to provide an extensive framework, I think it has to make economic sense as well. Being a very large country, there may be pockets in the island where the coverage may not be extended to. But they have a 85% quality-of-service requirement and that if there are specific buildings that have been affected, we would be very glad to take it up with the operator. We have to find out specifically about this case that the Member has mentioned and we would facilitate as much as we can.