ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION

ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION:

(Adoption of common emergency telephone number): 2.

Prof. Ivan Png Paak Liang asked the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts if he will consider adopting, as an action item for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the International Telecommunications Union, a common emergency telephone number throughout APEC and the world respectively.

The Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts (Dr Balaji Sadasivan) (for the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts): Mr Speaker, Sir, the development of emergency telephone numbers has not been internationally coordinated. Historically, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which is the United Nations specialised agency for telecommunications, left the assignment of emergency numbers to national administrations. As a result, each country decides on its emergency number to facilitate public access to emergency services. For example, the European Union has adopted "112" as its emergency number, while the USA and Canada have "911". Closer to home, Indonesia is using "112", the Philippines "911" while Malaysia has adopted "999". Singapore has adopted "999" as our emergency service number.

In 1998, with the growth of mobile technology, a public-private sector initiative, comprising standards organisations and mobile phone companies from all over the world formed the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The aim was to cooperate for the production of a complete set of globally applicable technical specifications for the

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3rd Generation Mobile systems. One of the technical specifications that came out of this initiative was the use of "112" as an international emergency number for GSM mobile phone networks. This means that GSM mobile phone users who make calls to "112" will have their calls redirected to the local emergency telephone number, if one exists in the country they are in. This is valuable for foreign travellers, who may not know the local emergency number.

Singapore is a member of the 3GPP consortium. Today, our mobile networks support both the "112" and the "911" international emergency number. This means that foreign travellers in Singapore with roaming hand phone facilities can dial either the "112" or "911" emergency numbers to reach an Emergency Call Centre in Singapore.

In the longer term, a single global emergency number is desirable. Hence, the ITU is now studying the feasibility of a single global emergency number based on an initiative proposed by Jamaica last year. Jamaica had proposed the adoption of a three-digit non-geographic number "112" as the global emergency number to be dialled anywhere in the world, in fixed, mobile and nomadic access modes to reach the local fire, police, medical and ambulance and coastguard emergency services. It also proposes that ITU establish a working group to study and recommend solutions for the development of a global emergency access system, including the adoption of the global emergency number.

Jamaica's proposal will be discussed when the ITU Study Group meets in May this year. Amongst the many issues that need to be addressed include the choice and format of the proposed emergency number. Today, countries that have configured their national numbering and

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dialling plans and technical networks around their own emergency number may not be prepared to align to an international standard number if it is different from theirs. Some countries are also constrained by the availability of numbers, which are a scarce national resource and need to be managed judiciously. Operators will need to consider the technical and commercial implications of changing numbers. Regulators must consider appropriate public awareness campaigns to educate the citizenry on the changes and to enforce the change worldwide. Realistically, we cannot expect a swift international consensus on the matter given the wide impact on the global community.

Singapore will certainly consider participating in the deliberations of the ITU Study Group in May this year. We hope to contribute to the effort to build international consensus on a common emergency number.

Prof. Ivan Png Paak Liang (Nominated Member): Sir, I thank the Hon. Minister for the comprehensive reply. I have two supplementary questions. We are a country which is very open. We are trying to promote tourism. We are very open to international trade and investments. We have very many foreign visitors, both vacationers and businessmen. First, can Singapore take the lead in implementing the "112"? There is no need to wait for the rest of the world to catch up. Let us implement it first for all our fixed-line calls and non-GSM mobile. It is just a matter of call forwarding. It should not be that difficult. So, can we take the lead in this and we will actually get the most benefits as an open country?

Second, can we do our utmost in the international forum, not just wait for ITU? We can press this in ASEAN, APEC and many other forums where we can move

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this forward, and then bring this to fruition. As an open economy which depends on trade, investments and tourism, we stand to benefit the most. We should take the lead here.

Dr Balaji Sadasivan: Sir, we support an international emergency number. We will certainly work in international fora to try and adopt one single number for the whole world.

With regard to the Member's first suggestion, we will look into it.

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