SINGAPORE TELEPHONE BOARD (Applications for telephones)

The following Question stood in the name of Inche Rahmat Bin Kenap -

Inche Rahmat Bin Kenap: To ask the Minister for Communications if he will ascertain from the Singapore Telephone Board how many applicants for telephones were on the waiting list, as at a latest convenient date, because there are no existing spare lines; and how long those applicants are expected to wait for telephones.

Mr Speaker: Inche Rahmat Kenap.

Mr Low Guan Onn: Question No. 17.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, as at 31st January, 1969, there were 4,373 applications for telephones on the waiting list, because of shortage of spare lines and exchange equipment. However, it is expected that about 3,000 or 65 per cent of the applicants will be able to get service by the middle of this year. Installations for the remainder, however, will take much longer. In certain isolated areas, it would be uneconomical to meet their demand, e.g., it would cost half-a-million dollars to provide telephones to 60 applicants who are living in the Choa Chu Kang, Woodlands Road/Mandai Road and Sungei Kadut areas.

It should be stated that in recent years, the demand for telephones has far exceeded expectations. For 1967, although the planned expansion rate was fixed at 8 per cent, the actual rate achieved was 13 per cent. For 1968, although the planned expansion rate was raised to 12 per cent, the actual rate achieved exceeded 14 per cent. The Board has, therefore decided on a four-year crash programme of expansion for 1969-72 to meet the ever-increasing demand for telephones. It has already submitted an application for a second loan with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.