Singapore’s Seaport to be First Wi-Max-Ready

By early 2008, all ships in Singapore can have access to mobile wireless broadband, allowing real-time and data-intensive communications between the ships and their customers and business partners. Thanks to WISEPORT (WIreless-broadband-access for SEaPort), activities that could only be done onshore previously can now be achieved offshore as well, from regulatory filings, to broadband communications, to real-time access to navigational data. WISEPORT is one of the initial projects under theInfocomm@SeaPort program, which aims to provide a mobile wireless broadband network within 15km from Singapore’s southern coastline. WISEPORT will provide a low-cost, high-bandwidth and secure access. TheInfocomm@SeaPort program is a collaboration between the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA). The two agencies will jointly set aside $8.15m for the program, which aims to catalyze business transformation and operational excellence in the port community through the use of innovative infocomm technologies.