By IRENE THAMTECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT

NETFLIX, which is on a global expan-sion spree, has urged the Singaporeauthorities to re-look their earlierproposal to allow major telcos here tocontinue to charge interconnectionfees to reach local broadband users.

Market observers note that thiscould be the strongest indication yetof the video-streaming serviceprovider’s interest in entering Singa-pore, following its expansion intoAustralia and New Zealand in March.

In its feedback to the InfocommDevelopment Authority’s (IDA) public

consultation, which ended lastmonth, United States-based Netflixsaid that major telcos can useinterconnection fees to limit competi-tion.

Some Internet service providers(ISPs) in overseas markets haveexercised market power to impose“unwarranted fees” on Netflix, itsaid.

For instance, it was made to payUS ISPs Comcast, Verizon, AT&T andTimer Warner access fees to let broad-band users have unfettered access toNetflix’s content.

“These fees tilt the level playingfield, cement the dominant retailproviders’ positions and cause higherprices for consumers,” said Netflixdirector of global public policy ColinBortner in consultation documents.

“In the case of video services likeNetflix, dominant ISPs would want toprotect their affiliated video business-es by driving up... competitors’costs,” he added.

In February, the IDA had proposed

that there would be no need to regu-late the fees that Singtel and StarHubcharge smaller ISPs and content pro-viders to reach the two telcos’ broad-band subscribers and the websitesthey host.

Netflix did not reply to a queryfrom The Straits Times on whether ithas plans to offer video services here,but analysts said this is a possible signthat it is evaluating the Singaporemarket.

Even though Netflix does not havea direct presence here, local Internetusers have been able to stream its con-tent using “backdoor” methods.

Singtel and StarHub, which also of-fer pay-TV services, command abouttwo-thirds of the broadband userbase, or more than one million broad-band subscribers, in Singapore.

Smaller ISPs have complained foryears that local interconnection feescost two to three times more than thefees charged by international telcos.

Despite this, Singapore has notmandated “peering” – or the free ex-

change of Internet traffic among localISPs – that is practised in Hong Kong.

In its latest feedback to IDA, M1said that the local traffic charges im-posed by Singtel and StarHub are noton a “cost-recovery basis”.

In its feedback to IDA, StarHubsaid: “As evidenced by the term, peer-ing is a meeting between ‘peers’, whoexchange traffic on a mutually benefi-cial basis. StarHub is, therefore, al-ways open to peer with other parties,where there is a commercial incentiveto do so.”

Singtel, on the other hand, saidthat regulation of peering – which israre and limited – could serve as a“disincentive” for the telco to makesignificant investments in infrastruc-ture and innovative services.

“In particular, there is a concernthat mandating multilateral peeringbetween all ISPs would enable smallerISPs to free-ride off investments in in-frastructure and facilities made bylarger ISPs,” it said.

itham@sph.com.sg

NTU sports a newGREEN HALL

The new three-storey NTU sports hall, which opens in 2016, will boast the region’s first large-span timber structure roof. The 10,000 sq m space will benefit from 40 per cent in energy savings and use 30 per cent less water.Carolyn Khew takes a closer look at the building.

Source: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

GRAPHICS: TIEN CHUNG PING

WATER-EFFICIENT FITTINGS AND ‘GREEN’ PRODUCTS

All water fittings in the sports hall are rated ‘excellent’ under the PUB’s Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme.

To monitor water usage, meters will be installed in common toilets.

All the construction materials used in the building are Green Label certified.For example, the cement used is produced using recycled industrial by-products such as ash and slag.

Ceiling tiles are made using mineral fibres from recycled newsprint and starch.

WAVE-LIKE TIMBER ROOFAt over 70m long, the arching timber roof provides five times better heat insulation compared with concrete roof structures. This ensures that minimal heat energy gets absorbed into the roof and reduces the cooling load needed for the hall, which can house three basketball courts or 13 badminton courts.

DOUBLE-SKIN WALLSThe outer wall consists of sunshade louvres made of timber, which help to cut out the solar heat and glare that comes into the building. This in turn reduces the cooling load. To cool the remaining air that enters the hall, metal coils with cold water flowing through them are installed in the inner walls, removing heat from the hall quickly.

GLASS LOUVRES FOR NATURAL VENTILATIONPowered electrically, these louvres help to allow natural ventilationand sunlight into the hall when the conditions are appropriate.This reduces the amount of air-conditioning and lighting needed.There are also other common areas that rely entirely on daylight and natural ventilation, such as the carpark and staircases.

Sunshadelouvres

Warmair

Cooledair

Heat

Minimalheatabsorption

Timberroof

Metal coilswith cold

water

US video-streamingfirm’s feedback toIDA could be sign itis eyeing Singapore

Allow free exchangeof Internet traffic: Netflix

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