CALLER ID FACILITY

Mr John De Payva asked the Minister for Communications why certain telephone numbers cannot have Caller-ID facility.

The Minister of State for Communications (Mr Goh Chee Wee) (for the Minister for Communications): Sir, there are currently a total of 97 switches in SingTel's telephone network serving some 1.5 million telephone subscribers. Over the years, SingTel has progressively upgraded its network and replaced its switches to support more advanced features, such as Caller ID, for its customers. So far, 84% of all SingTel's switches have been replaced. The remaining switches are scheduled to be upgraded within the next three years. Until then, subscribers whose telephones are linked to the older switches do not have direct access to features such as Caller ID. Those subscribers who need to have such features urgently can contact SingTel who will look into special arrangements for them.

Mr John De Payva: Sir, to change a telephone number, a subscriber has to pay a fee. Would the Ministry consider a waiver of this fee if a subscriber changes his telephone number?

Mr Goh Chee Wee: Sir, I do not have the details about this fee. But as I explained earlier on, there are options available to the subscribers who want to have Caller ID facility. As I said, special arrangements can be made for the subscribers.

Mr John De Payva: Sir, does the special arrangement mean the waiver of the fees?

Mr Goh Chee Wee: Sir, I do not believe that there will be a waiver of the fees. There is a fee incurred in having this Caller ID facility. As I said, I do not believe that a waiver is being planned.

Mr John De Payva: Sir, in a normal situation, when one changes a telephone number to another number, one has to pay a fee. This is what one has to pay if one has an old number and wants to have Caller ID facility. Could this fee be waived?

Mr Goh Chee Wee: As I said, I do not have the details about this fee structure. I will ask SingTel to look into this.