Cisco and IDA Expand Technology Collaboration in Singapore.

SINGAPORE -- Cisco[R] and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) have expanded their technology collaboration to advance Internet Protocol (IP) networking in Singapore. Both parties signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) in October 2005 to enhance current and future collaborations to identify, develop and deploy innovative converged infocomm applications in Singapore.

Today, in a signing ceremony witnessed by Mr John Chambers, Cisco's chairman and CEO and Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, both parties re-affirmed their commitment made during the MOI and expanded their collaboration in line with iP3 (interaction across People, Private and Public enterprise). The expanded agreement, signed between Cisco Systems[R] International, BV, and the IDA, includes exploring and implementing technologies that will help achieve a ubiquitous computing environment and fuel greater innovation of next-generation networking solutions in Singapore.

Cisco has participated in projects to transform and enable key clusters such as education and healthcare. An example is the Cisco Clinical Connection initiative which aims to revolutionise the way information flows in the healthcare sector.

Since the signing of the first MOI in October 2005, Cisco has been an active participant in IDA's infocomm Local Industry Upgrading Program (iLIUP) where they recruited over 25 local companies, and trained over 40 technical staff in those companies, helping them generate S$1.9 million in sales. Cisco was also a partner and sponsor for national projects like S2006 and Innovationation.

In addition, Cisco has provided support to the Infocomm Club at Victoria Junior College. The Infocomm Club is an IDA initiative, supported by the Ministry of Education (MOE), to attract and nurture talent for the infocomm industry. Moving forward, Cisco will be looking into supporting more infocomm clubs, as well as helping to raise the competency level of network professionals and students in Singapore through training and certification, local and overseas industry attachments and scholarships. Cisco and IDA are targeting to train about 1,800 students and professionals under the National Infocomm Competency Framework over the next three years as part of the common vision to groom infocomm talent for Singapore's social and economic growth.

"IDA welcomes collaborative efforts with MNC partners like Cisco to explore the use of next generation technologies for Singapore's development. Such partners can lend their experience and expertise in helping us to achieve our iN2015 vision of building an intelligent nation, global city powered by infocomm," said Mr Leong Keng Thai, Acting CEO of IDA.

"Cisco's and Singapore's vision are alike in many ways. Cisco is building the network to become the platform to enable life's experiences and the Singapore government similarly sees ICT as the enabler that will impact the way Singaporeans work, live, play and learn. This shared vision is the driver behind iP3 and Cisco is excited to be able to contribute to iN2015," said Mr Craig Gledhill, Cisco's Managing Director for Singapore and Brunei.

"Cisco is also able to contribute through its technology leadership in next generation broadband and wireless solutions as well as advanced and emerging technologies such as unified communications and telepresence," he added. "We will be combining these with best practices from leading-edge deployments around the world to create proof-of-concept projects that may be applicable for wide-spread adoption in Singapore."

About IDA

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) develops, promotes and regulates info-communications in Singapore, with the aim of establishing Singapore as one of the world's premier infocomm capitals. To nurture an internationally competitive infocomm industry, IDA offers a comprehensive range of programmes and schemes for both local and international companies. For more information, visit www.idanews.gov.sg

About Cisco Systems

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Asia Pacific news and information are available at www.cisco.com/asiapac/news. Cisco products are supplied in Singapore by Cisco Systems International, BV.

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