Cisco Systems and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) have signed an S$18 million three-year Memorandum of Intent (MoI) to advance Internet Protocol (IP) networking in Singapore. The investments will focus on three areas: the deployment of next-generation networking technologies; the development of skilled infocomm network professionals; and the establishment of a Singapore Solutions Centre in Singapore to help local enterprises bring their products and solutions to market.
The signing of the MoI between Mr Craig Gledhill, Cisco Systems Managing Director for Singapore, and Mr Chan Yeng Kit, Chief Executive Officer, IDA Singapore, was witnessed by Mr Charles Giancarlo, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer of Cisco Systems, Inc.
Businesses and consumers are increasingly demanding seamless access to information anytime and anywhere. Cisco and IDA are committed to exploring technologies that achieve a ubiquitous computing environment and promoting greater innovation in the development and deployment of next-generation networking solutions in Singapore. Cisco is an industry leader whose Intelligent Information Network looks into a future infrastructure that is highly resilient and adaptive, while aligning infocomm technology (ICT) resources with business priorities. With this, people can get the right information at the right time and in the right format for the task at hand, whether they are working, playing or learning.
“IDA is pleased to work with industry leaders, like Cisco, to explore possibilities and build Singapore’s capabilities in next-generation network technologies. These will serve as inputs to the current exercise in developing the 10-year masterplan, iN2015,” said Mr Chan.
Article continues below“Cisco is excited to be given this opportunity to contribute to the development and growth of Singapore’s infocomm sector,” said Mr Giancarlo. “IP networking technologies have revolutionized the way that governments, businesses and individuals not just communicate but collaborate and compete with one another. This global marketplace is creating opportunities for everyone and the winners will be those who make use of IP networking technologies most effectively. Cisco is committed to helping Singapore maximize the potential of the country through the use of IP networking.”
One key potential area in this collaboration between Cisco and IDA is to study the feasibility of deploying next-generation integrated voice, video and data networks that will provide the country with seamless, ubiquitous wired and wireless connectivity. This is designed to enable Singapore to leapfrog current technologies and cater for anticipated connectivity requirements in the long term.
To achieve the realization of this vision, Singapore will need a ready pool of trained and skilled network professionals and local enterprises. Thus, the second focus area of the MoI is to develop and upgrade the skills and competency level of network professionals and students in Singapore through training and certification, local and overseas industry attachments and scholarships, and enhancing the resources of the more than 20 educational institutions under the Cisco Networking Academy. The objective is to train more than 600 infocomm professionals and students over three years.
The third area covered by the MoI is the establishment of a Singapore Solutions Centre that will help Singapore-based enterprises to develop, test, showcase and market their products and solutions. The ultimate aim of the centre is to help turn Singapore into a key developer of advanced IP networking technologies.
|
