Singapore Parliament Passes Amendments To Telecommunications Act

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku ABdullah SINGAPORE, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- The Singapore Parliament has passed several amendments to the Telecommunications Act, thus granting the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) more power to regulate the sector. Among others, the six broad areas of amendments include giving the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts the power to impose a Separation Order for the transfer of telecommunications assets or business of a licensee to a separate entity. This is to eliminate barriers to competition, particularly in markets where one operator controls the network infrastructures as well as participates in retail services. The amendments will also allow the minister to issue Special Administrative Orders to allow the takeover of a telecoms service or property by a third party. This is to ensure that a key telecommunication service remains functional, for public and national interest, in cases of insolvency by an operator. At present, the minister is empowered to act only in cases of public emergency. Laying the changes in Parliament on Monday, local television Channel News Asia reported, Minister of Information, Communications and the Arts Dr Yaacob Ibrahim assured the House that both sets of powers will be used judiciously, and in the case of the Separation Order, as a last resort. The amendments also allow IDA to impose higher penalties, and to suspend or cancel a license if penalties are not paid on time. -- BERNAMA Malaysia