TELEPHONE APPLICATIONS ON WAITING LIST (Particulars)

Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for National Development and Communications if he will ascertain from the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore the number of applicants for telephones on the waiting list on 1st March, 1976; the average number annually of applicants for telephones and the number of telephones provided by the Authority since 1971; and what plans the Authority has to meet the increasing demand for telephones.

The Minister of State for Communications (Mr Ong Teng Cheong) (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, as at 1st March, 1976, there were a total number of 32,082 applicants waiting for telephones. The number of applications for telephones and the number of telephones provided by the Authority since 1971 are as follows: Applications Direct telephone lines installed 1971 21,715 19,864 1972 27,098 20,257 1973 35,894 24,244 1974 40,876 25,240 1975 48,879 33,612

With increasing urbanisation and affluence, the growth in demand for telephone services had been phenomenal. In the 10 years since 1966, applications for telephones have almost increased five-fold from 11,000 to 51,000 today. The number of exchange lines installed has more than tripled from 64,000 to 210.000 today. Likewise, the number of people waiting for telephones has also increased. Actual growth is running at the rate of 20% per year while projected growth was only 1 5% per year.

To keep pace with this rate of growth, the Authority is investing vast sums of money on equipment and cables as follows: Financial Capital Expenditure Year Million $ 1971 35.7 1972/73 29.9 1973/74 27.6 1974/75 53.6 1975/76 (estimate) 108.0 1976/77 (budgetted) 152.0 As development gathers momentum, the waiting list for telephones which is now 1 5.4% of total lines installed would be brought down progressively to just over 10% by the end of this year, and to 8% by the end of 1977. The Authority's long-term objective is to keep the waiting list to about 5%.

Mr Ho See Beng (Bras Basah): Sir, I was told that when the TAS introduced colour telephones, they levied an extra charge on those who applied for colour telephones. But this charge was later withdrawn. I want to know what is the justification for the extra charge in the first instance, and why was it withdrawn later.

Mr Ong Teng Cheong: Sir, the reason for levying an extra charge in the early stages of the introduction of colour telephones was because there were a limited number of colour telephones available to meet the high demand for them. But since then the supply of colour telephones has been adequate, and it has therefore been decided to withdraw the extra charge.

Mr Ivan Baptist (Potong Pasir): Sir, I do believe it must have been bad planning on the part of the TAS because -Mr Speaker: Mr Baptist, are you asking a supplementary question?

Mr Ivan Baptist: Yes, I am asking a supplementary question, Sir. The Minister of State must have been aware that there has been bad planning on the part of the TAS. According to his figures. actual growth was 20% per year and the TAS projected only 1 5%, that is, about 25% off the mark.

Mr Speaker: What is your supplementary question?

Mr Ivan Baptist: I am just wondering whether or not the Hon. Minister of State would take steps to ensure that this error will not occur in the projection for the next five years. From the figures he has given, things are getting from bad to worse.

Mr Ong Teng Cheong: As has been given in my answer earlier. Sir, this waiting list will be progressively reduced from the current rate of 15.4% to 8% by the end of 1977. It is not possible to provide a system or service where there would be a 100% fulfilment, or a "zero" waiting time. There must be some amount of waiting time. The long-term objective, as I have mentioned earlier, is to keep this waiting list down to the minimum and I can assure the Member that every effort is being made to achieve this.

Mr Ho See Beng: Sir, arising from the Minister of State's answer to my question in respect of the charge for colour telephones, may I know whether it was because the TAS had to pay more for the colour telephones, or whether they charged it simply because the people demanded it. What is the difference in cost between the colour telephone and the conventional black sets?

Mr Ong Teng Cheong: Sir, I do not think there is any difference between the cost of a colour telephone and an ordinary black telephone. I do not know what the actual reasons were when the colour set was introduced, but I believe the extra charge was to deter the high demand at that time.

Mr P. Govindaswamy (Anson): Sir, sometimes the statement of accounts from the TAS is confusing, and sometimes it takes three or four months to arrive.

Mr Speaker: Mr Govindaswamy, are you asking a supplementary question?

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Yes, Sir. Will the Minister take steps to ensure that the statement of accounts will be sent regularly every month?

Mr Ong Teng Cheong: It is assured. Sir.