Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts

36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963.

Tel: 3757794/5

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Ministers,

Your excellencies,

Ladies & gentlemen

It is a great pleasure for me to be here this evening for the official launch of Asia-Pacific Mobile Telecommunications Satellite (APMT) Company in Singapore.

The telecoms industry today is shaped by 3 main forces: technological convergence, competition and deregulation. On 15 February 97, more than 100 countries, including Singapore, signed the basic telecommunications agreement under the World Trade Organization (WTO) to liberalize their national telecommunications industry.

Singapore believes that a sustainable competitive telecom market is good for our economy. Greater competition brought about by liberalisation can lead to effective telecoms and information infrastructure, innovative range of services at competitive pricing.

In 1996, we made a commitment to bring forward the expiry of the exclusive license of our only telecommunication operator by seven years to the year 2000. Three days ago, we awarded the licence for a Public Basic Telecommunications Service (PBTS) and a licence for a Public Cellular Mobile Telephone Services (PCMTS) to StarHub, to commence operations on 1 April 2000. By the year 2000, we will have two operators providing basic telecommunication services and three operators providing mobile telephone services.

However, liberalisation of the market is necessary, but not sufficient. There is a need to anticipate and appreciate possible future developments, and take bold steps to help bring them about. Last year, several government agencies took the initiative to launch Singapore ONE, an interactive broadband multimedia network, accessible to all homes, schools and businesses in Singapore by end of 1998. This initiative not only facilitates greater access to information and knowledge but also improves the quality of life of Singaporeans by changing the way we live, work and play. It brings us a step closer to the vision of IT2000 of transforming Singapore into an intelligent island.

APMT is yet another bold initiative. As the world becomes more globalised, communication and interconnection become more crucial. One has to stay connected in the region, and globally, any time anywhere, especially in places without basic telecoms infrastructure.

The number of households having access to a telephone is still very low in many countries in the Asia Pacific region. Mobile Satellite Services, like the one to be provided by APMT, can help these countries leapfrog into the next millenium by providing telephony, fax and data services via satellite without the need for basic telecommunications infrastructure, which take time to build.

Singapore has supported the APMT program since its inception. I am pleased to note that APMT can benefit from the telecommunications infrastructure and global connectivity that we have in place in Singapore, to connect to the region and to the rest of the world.

Today, the launch of the operation of APMT Satellite Company and the inauguration of the 1st APMT Board of Directors Meeting marks an important milestone for the company. With the commitment of the Chinese and Singapore founder companies and strategic partners from other Asian companies, I believe the regional mobile satellite business is well positioned to serve the Asia Pacific region.

I wish Asia-Pacific Mobile Telecommunications Satellite (APMT) company every success.

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