SingAREN: the Singapore Advanced Research and Education Network

Singapore is the first country in the world to have a nationwide broadband network infrastructure deployed. What started as an experimental ATM testbed network in 1995 has now become a nationwide broadband infrastructure called Singapore ONE, launched in 1997 to provide residential broadband access via ADSL or CATV cable modem technologies, and business access via ATM. As of June 1998, Singapore ONE supported more than 10,000 users with over 120 commercial applications. More than 100,000 users are projected by the end of 1999, increasing to 400,000 by the year 2001. In order to support the technological needs of broadband communications under Singapore ONE, and to address the national R&D agenda in this area, an advanced research network called the Singapore Advanced Research and Education Network (SingAREN) was established in late 1997. This article gives an overview of the broadband infrastructure initiatives in Singapore, focusing on the SingAREN project. The goals of SingAREN, its network configuration, the research programs and activities to date, and plans for the future are described.