TELEPHONE FACILITIES FOR PULAU UBIN AND PULAU TEKONG

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for National Development and Communications (a) what measures have been taken so far by the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore to provide telephone facilities for the residents of Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong; and (b) when the telephone facilities will be made available for public and private use.

Mr Ong Teng Cheong (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore plans to install two public telephones in Pulau Tekong, one at the police station and the other at the community centre by September this year when the radio equipment are delivered. These telephones will supplement the three existing coinafons available in the Mindef camps. At the same time, a public telephone will also be installed in Pulau Ubin.

Sir, owing to the very low demand for services, radio telephones have been used to extend telephone service to the off-shore islands. The cost is high because of the high unit cost of radio telephones. The TAS will absorb the high cost of installation of public telephone and will maintain the charge at 10 cents per call.

Those who require a private telephone may rent radio telephones at a rental of $1,900 per year to meet the high cost of this equipment in addition to the standard rental.