[Singapore]: Auto Login to Free Wi-Fi (also for Visitors!)

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), announced that "Consumers will soon enjoy easier access to all Wireless@SG hotspots, when a new automatic login feature kicks in from April 1. 

Dubbed EAP-SIM (RFC), this new SIM card-based login feature offers users an "always on" experience by allowing them to automatically connect to any Wireless@SG hotspot using a supported device with a local SIM card. This means new and existing users of Wireless@SG no longer need to sign up for the service or enter any credentials to access the Internet at any Wireless@SG hotspot.

Wireless@SG users can easily configure their supported mobile devices to make use of this new login feature by following the connection guide available from the IDA website at www.ida.gov.sg/Individuals-and-Community/Infocomm-You/Wireless-SG.

Source: Cisco (here)

Visitors in Singapore will benefit from the improvements, too. From June 2014, visitors can register for a free account at any Wireless@SG hotspot and receive their login details through SMS messages sent to their foreign mobile numbers. Alternatively, visitors can buy a local prepaid SIM card from M1 (here) and StarHub (here) to log on to Wireless@SG via the new SIM-based login feature .. By 2015, the IDA will double the total number of hotspots to 10,000. This will be further doubled to 20,000 by 2016".

See "Wireless@SG to Offer Seamless Wi-Fi Connectivity, More Hotspots" - here.

Singapore Takes an Extreme Net Neutrality Regulation

History repeats itself. In 2011, KPN tried to surcharge OTT services, and the result was that The Netherlands adopted a Net Neutrality law (see "Nice try, KPN - Netherlands First European Country to Adopt Net Neutrality" - here).

Last week, during her presentation at MWC, Sock Koong Chua [pictured], CEO, Singtel said she "urged regulators to give carriers like Optus the right to charge rivals such as WhatsApp and Skype for use of their networks or risk a major decline in network investment" (report by David Ramli, to Financial Review, here).

And the result? A very strict Net Neutrality regulation.

Mobile World Live reports that "Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), Singapore’s regulator, has said the country’s mobile operators will not be allowed to block or charge a fee to subscribers who access OTT services .. ISPs are not allowed to block legitimate internet content; neither should they impose restrictions, charges or other measures that will render any legitimate internet content effectively inaccessible or unusable.”

In addition, it said ISPs are not allowed to adopt traffic management practices that will compromise QoS standards or any anti-competitive discriminatory practice what would hurt consumers".

See "Singapore’s regulator warns operators on OTT charges" - here.