Singapore's seaport to get WiMax

SINGAPORE--The government announced Wednesday new plans to build a wireless broadband network within 15 kilometers from Singapore's southern coastline.

Targeted to be ready by early 2008, the WiMax network will benefit the seaport community. Ships in Singapore will be able to tap on the new network for low-cost, high-bandwidth and secure access for real-time data communications with their customers and business partners.

Dubbed Infocomm@SeaPort, the S$12 million (US$8 million) program is a collaboration between the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA).

The new WiMax network will enable activities that could only be done onshore previously, to be conducted offshore. These include regulatory filings, broadband communications, as well as real-time access to navigational data.

Later this year, MPA and IDA will jointly initiate a call-for-collaboration to develop new content and software applications for the seaport community. These include messaging services that enable ships to communicate more cost-effectively with other parties and applications that allow ships to book maritime services through the high-speed network.

Infocomm@SeaPort is part of the country's iN2015 masterplan to enhance the economic competitiveness of Singapore using infocomm technologies.