Free Internet surfing for 4 more years

[Char_Azn]

One must ask why the PAP is so generous


Who owns the malls Temasek

Who provides the broadband services Singnet

Who is providing the equioment, support,... probably the ST group

Gosh, thyey are all GLCs

Does Temasek owns Mcdonald's? Do they own Burger King, Starbucks or Coffee Beans? Just about every fastfood restaurant and Shopping mall, public library, Community club you can think of is involved in this and no Temasek do not own all of them. And neither are they the ones providing the IT equipment. Each of the vendors actually use different equipment and no they are NOT from ST. And even if they are from Temasek, this is a money losing business, why would they want to get themselves involved.

Why is the government so keen on getting this out, simple to improve the overall infrastructure of the country, to get more pple to use the internet, to increase the internet penetration here. Does it make sense to throw so much money into this? Its actually a big YES!!! The internet has become so important in this day and age that it is as important has having a stable power grid, good transportation infrastructure, etc. Does it make sense to throw so much money to repair local roads? Does it make sense to make sure that the entire country have a stable power supply? If those make sense why wouldn't providing free internet access for the public make sense?

 

[yinyang]

..many places in LOS, Malaysia, Indonesia, US ,... have free Wifi access but paid for by businesses & not the gov't,

Not quite so for public places in LOS or Msia (outside usual cafes hot spots). Even in Bkk airport, you have to subscribe to AOT (airport authority of thailand). On rare occassion when I'm at gate next to travellers lounge, can hope to tag on weak signal.

If this was entirely left to private sector, I doubt infrastructure would be where we are today.

 

[johnny333]

the government deserve flaming for doing stupid stuff like spending 200K to rename a place to its original name but providing FREE INTERNET ACCESS to the general public in many public places is not something that should be put down.

You may have a higher threshold for gov't waste, because the gov't usually wastes miilions to billions of taxpayers money but there are Sporeans who still care even if 1 cent is wasted.

As I pointed out in LOS, Indonesia, US, Malaysia,... free wifi access is provided by private parties & not by the gov't.

Looking at the parties who benefits; Singnet, Temasek, ST group,..., I'm not surprise that the gov't has been so generous

PS: Temasek owns most of the malls in Spore.

There are no free lunches in Spore. Taxpayers are paying for this "free" services. You will not find the "general public" surfing at the malls

 

[johnny333]

Does Temasek owns Mcdonald's? Do they own Burger King, Starbucks or Coffee Beans? Just about every fastfood restaurant and Shopping mall, public library, Community club you can think of is involved in this and no Temasek ?

I'm surprise you don't know that Temasek owns most of the malls in Spore

 

[Char_Azn]

Not quite so for public places in LOS or Msia (outside usual cafes hot spots). Even in Bkk airport, you have to subscribe to AOT (airport authority of thailand). On rare occassion when I'm at gate next to travellers lounge, can hope to tag on weak signal.

If this was entirely left to private sector, I doubt infrastructure would be where we are today.

I am guessing that guy has not travelled to many of those places he claimed he has tested at. And he doesn't comprehend the fact that improving the overall infrastructure of a country is needed for a country to progress. It seems to me that to him, the government is spending a lot of money doing something it must be bad!!!! The fact that every single government in the entire world is coming up with scheme similar to this doesnt seem to matter. Oh wait that joker doesnt even seem to read the news, he probably does know WTF is going on in the world

 

[johnny333]

And even if they are from Temasek, this is a money losing business, why would they want to get themselves involved.

The contract work must have been done by a gov't approved contractor & probably the ST group of companies.


How can you say that providing free internet services is not profitable for Temasek? If you visit MacD, food courts,... there are many people using the services.

MacD, Coffee Bean,.... are all paying Temasek very high rent.

In many countries Wifi access is provided by private parties. If it was as you say "money loosing" why bother doing it

 

[johnny333]

I am guessing that guy has not travelled to many of those places he claimed he has tested at. And he doesn't comprehend the fact that improving the overall infrastructure of a country is needed for a country to progress.

Please lah give me some credit. I got eyes & ears to see what is going around

Even a small hotels in BKK, Hatyai, Pattaya,... can provides FREE internet access. They don't need no gov't money.

Even poor little Batam, some of hotel are providing FREE internet services.

It is really disgusting to see the PAP boasting about Wifi access when everyone is improving the internet access speeds.

 

[Char_Azn]

The contract work must have been done by a gov't approved contractor & probably the ST group of companies.


How can you say that providing free internet services is not profitable for Temasek? If you visit MacD, food courts,... there are many people using the services.

MacD, Coffee Bean,.... are all paying Temasek very high rent.

In many countries Wifi access is provided by private parties. If it was as you say "money loosing" why bother doing it

Assuming what you said is true, that Temasek owns EVERYTHING(which will easily multiply its current value by more then a thousand fold) McD's and every other shops that needs to pay rent will still have to pay the same rent, WITH OR WITHOUT Wireless@SG not to mention NOT ALL MALLS currently have Wireless@SG.

Like I said before improving the overall infrastructure of a country is needed for a country to progress. The fact that every single government in the entire world is coming up with schemes similar to this, why? To improve the infrastructure in the country, to improve the level of IT literacy in the country, to increase broadband penetration. Please read all my post in the entirety before U reply.

Does it benefit the government in the end, yes. Why, cause IT and the internet has become so essential in today's business environment that it is expected of a developed population to be able to do all these things. It bring the investments, it brings in businesses. The government does not benefit directly from a monetary point of view but doing this will benefit the country as a whole and in doing so the government will indirectly benefit from this. This is the reason why governments ALL OVER THE WORLD is trying to improve its population's IT literacy rate as well as broadband penetration.

Why do you think they government is subsidizing for the poor to get PCs. Why do U think the government is offering $1.50 per month home broadband plans for the poor kids. For precisely the same reason. To train the future generations in the use of IT technology to get an edge over our competitors in the future. This is definitely a loss making move but they still have to do it. Why coz in the end the country benefits. And when the country benefits, the government benefits

To put this in terms U can actually understand, when the country benefits, when more investments and businesses comes in, and the economy goes up, PAP will hold themselves ransom and give themselves a pay raise again. Now does that make sense?

 

[Char_Azn]

Please lah give me some credit. I got eyes & ears to see what is going around

Even a small hotels in BKK, Hatyai, Pattaya,... can provides FREE internet access. They don't need no gov't money.

Even poor little Batam, some of hotel are providing FREE internet services.

It is really disgusting to see the PAP boasting about Wifi access when everyone is improving the internet access speeds.

Look under location type - Hotel

http://www.infocomm123.sg/wireless_at_sg/coverage_areas;jsessionid=3065F66E1B657CB36278024CBAF87641

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

Those hotspots are also very slow. I used to own a wifi device and since i was using singtel i had to use CC to pay for 30 mins of surfing if the other place had starfuck wifi.


Now that my phone has 3G and quite a high end browser i do not need to do that.


Get a good 3G plan it's better u can surf net anywhere.

 

[johnny333]

Not quite so for public places in LOS or Msia (outside usual cafes hot spots).
....
....
If this was entirely left to private sector, I doubt infrastructure would be where we are today.

These places in LOS are all private businesse, so got different access requirements to get on.

As for private & gov't led infrastructure building. Its a matter of the person who's in charge I heard that the Australian company who was going to upgrade Spore internet infrastructure pulled out.

Sporeans will have to wait for the PAP to get back from their holidays. So even with familee leadership, things aren't so smooth

 

[cass888]

I am guessing that guy has not travelled to many of those places he claimed he has tested at. And he doesn't comprehend the fact that improving the overall infrastructure of a country is needed for a country to progress. It seems to me that to him, the government is spending a lot of money doing something it must be bad!!!! The fact that every single government in the entire world is coming up with scheme similar to this doesnt seem to matter. Oh wait that joker doesnt even seem to read the news, he probably does know WTF is going on in the world

You mean there is usually no wireless access outside of the airline lounges?

 

[Char_Azn]

You mean there is usually no wireless access outside of the airline lounges?

huh? Did I even mention that? As far as I know the local Airline lounges all have them. Not all Airline lounges around the world have it though.

 

[yinyang]

You mean there is usually no wireless access outside of the airline lounges?

..far as I know the local Airline lounges all have them. Not all Airline lounges around the world have it though.

Difference is, if it's gratis or not (outside airport lounges). Outside of changi, I had to use a prepaid card in a few places like Schipol Amsterdam. A starbucks frappe would be better value:p

BKK, Hatyai, Pattaya,... can provides FREE internet access. They don't need no gov't money.Even poor little Batam, some of hotel are providing FREE internet services

That's just plain business sense, part of "product mix" for hotels. Either included in room rate, or "add-on" charge.

 

[Naka_Timo]

Like tat gd, at anywhere also can serve tis forum, even at toliet also can.

 

[cass888]

huh? Did I even mention that? As far as I know the local Airline lounges all have them. Not all Airline lounges around the world have it though.

So far all do. I can't see how they can keep the bandwith to just within the lounge so I assume it is also accessible outside the lounge.

 

[Char_Azn]

So far all do. I can't see how they can keep the bandwith to just within the lounge so I assume it is also accessible outside the lounge.

For one I know the one in Hyderabad(old airport) doesnt work. I remember another airport in China also didn't have it. Most of the other lounge I've been to requires passwords which they usually provide if you are entering the lounge

 

[Char_Azn]

Difference is, if it's gratis or not (outside airport lounges). Outside of changi, I had to use a prepaid card in a few places like Schipol Amsterdam. A starbucks frappe would be better value:p

Too expensive. I usually just connect via tethering using my Blackberry and charge everything back to the company. Roaming charges can kill though. Use like that every day for a while, 1 month can easily exceed 1K roaming charges

 

[johnny333]

That's just plain business sense, part of "product mix" for hotels. Either included in room rate, or "add-on" charge.

Although some hotels may charge for internet access, many of them don't charge extra. Internet access is becoming a commodity item. Alot of guests have come to expect access, its like having a TV in the room.

I don't always bring my laptop when I visit LOS, I go to one of those internet places only about 60 to 80 baht per hours,

But I'm thinking of getting an Apple Ipod Touch & using it to surf the internet : )

 

[cass888]

For one I know the one in Hyderabad(old airport) doesnt work. I remember another airport in China also didn't have it. Most of the other lounge I've been to requires passwords which they usually provide if you are entering the lounge

Quite a few do not set passwords, actually.