CABLE TELEVISION FOR ALL HOMES IN SINGAPORE

Mr John De Payva asked the Minister for Information and the Arts why certain housing estates are still not equipped to receive cable television.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Information and the Arts (Encik Mohamad Maidin B P M) (for the Minister for Information and the Arts): Sir, the Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA) has tasked Singapore CableVision (SCV) with the job of wiring all homes in Singapore. Under its plan to provide cable TV services to the whole island, SCV is wiring over 700,000 homes. Each home has to be wired individually. SCV is carrying out the wiring stage by stage because it is a massive project. It is not possible for all estates to be simultaneously wired for cable TV. SCV is currently wiring at the rate of 23,000 units per month, with the cooperation of residents. By 1998, all HDB estates will be wired up. The wiring of the whole of Singapore will be completed by the year 2000.