BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: TelBru is bringing High-Speed Broadband (HSBB) connectivity to more local households as the much-anticipated fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) makes its ‘first phase deployment’; with 1,000 homes already connected, Borneo Bulletin reported.
TelBru CEO, David Kay, said they are targeting another 6,000 homes this year and sees an encouraging increase in the number of online and counter applications for the service.
“This clearly indicates the demand and need for a more efficient and high-speed Internet connection from the public,” he said during an official launching ceremony at The Times Square Shopping Centre yesterday.
Officiating the event as the guest of honour was Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Minister of Communications.
To demonstrate how powerful and reliable the FTTH connection is, TelBru initiated an online gaming tournament for “The League of Legends” game.
Times Square is also the first commercial area to be connected with the HSBB, allowing businesses access to high-speed connectivity and reliability, thus paving the way to conduct business with ease.
David Kay revealed that the first phase of the HSBB project covered areas in Madang, Gadong and Central areas. “By the end of February itself, a further 1,000 homes will be connected,” he said.
Those mentioned areas are only the beginning of TelBru’s major infrastructure project. Homes that have not been ‘plugged in’ at other areas will be part of the deployment plan, which he described as a huge undertaking and investment – a gradual process that requires meticulous planning and implementation.
By the end of the year, he said most homes in the mainly densely populated areas will be able to connect to FTTH. It is hoped that it will close the gap and bring us at par-with Brunei’s ICT enhanced neighbours.
“By way of conclusion, it is not just about fast broadband speeds but rather providing 100 per cent of the Bruneian household with access to HSBB that ultimately underlines Brunei’s Vision 2035. TelBru is working extremely hard to fulfil this vision,” he explained.
The HSBB experience and campaign will be opened to the public until tomorrow and they can further explore HSBB, including the FTTH technology whilst comparing the new broadband with current copper cables. The development and milestone of Internet and communications technology from the past, present and also TelBru’s future planning will also be highlighted.