TELEX SERVICE FOR COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Mr P. Selvadurai asked the Minister for Communications if the Telex Service that obtains in Singapore is adequate for the Republic's commercial and industrial needs.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, due to the unfortunate limited capacity of the existing manual telex switchboards and the current shortage of teleprinters and associated equipment, it has not been possible to provide applicants for telex service with immediate connection. In fact, there is at present a waiting list of 42 potential telex subscribers and it is likely that this list may become larger. In addition, there are 21 subscribers now using limited service with machines, not equipped with tape-perforation facilities, who have requested that they be supplied with machines incorporating these facilities which we are, unfortunately, not able to meet because of the present shortage of teleprinters.

It is anticipated, however, that the 42 potential subscribers will be given service by May of next year, that is, six months from now, when additional manual switchboards and teleprinter equipment, which have been ordered by the Telecommunications Department, are expected to be ready for service. It will also be possible then to provide some of the 21 subscribers with tape-perforation facilities.

I may also add that provision has been made in the Departmental Development Estimates for next year for the purchase and installation of an Automatic Telex Exchange at an estimated cost of $600,000 and it is anticipated that the equipment will be ready for service in 1970. This equipment, together with teleprinters and associated equipment for which an additional sum of $1 million has been budgeted in next year's Development Estimates, will ensure that existing subscribers will be given a fully automatic telex service and ample capacity for the anticipated growth in the immediate future.