Mr Keng Thai LEONG Director-General (Telecoms and Post), Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) served as the foundation for past and current innova-tions, the next wave of innovations will be delivered through high speed broadband networks. Broadband will define this generation and provide the basis for in-novations that could transform economies and socie-ties. Broadband has the potential to be a country’s ba-sic infrastructure and a critical foundation for growth. Through the innovative services that emerge from such infrastructures, everyone, including the disabled and the less-privileged, can be engaged and be part of the information society. Singapore’s Experience Thank you, Mr Chairman. In Singapore, we have been working over the last 10 years, to bring broadband to all homes, schools and institutions. Currently, we are deploying a new Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network, capable of supporting speeds of up to 1Gbps and beyond. But innovation is not about the speeds on offer, but the value creation coming from content, services and ap-plications Honourable Ministers, Secretary-General of the ITU, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, from the broadband networks. Therefore, Ladies and gentlemen. while building the physical infrastructure is important, we must ensure that the policies we put in place will enable broadband to be the well-spring for innova-tive Broadband as a Basic Service and Basis for Future Innovation First, let me add my congratulations to you, Mr Chairman, on your election to chair this important conference. content, services, applications and other future possibilities. For Singapore, the new national broadband network has brought a comprehensive rethink of how market structures and national policy objectives and out-comes should interact. From the simple copper line, we have been witnessing wave after wave of innovation in the way we commu-nicate Following close consultations with the industry, we have developed a policy that ensures true effective open access to the next generation broadband net-work, with one another. From the telephone to Twitter and other instant messaging options today, innova-tions to maximise the possibilities of service innova-tion. Through competitive bidding and partial gov- have been unfolding. But while copper networks 56