New moves by Singapore to allow greater foreign competition in its telecommunications services has raised hopes that a World Trade Organisation (WTO) global agreement on the industry can be finalised before the April 30 deadline.
Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong told the World Trade Congress in Singapore yesterday that the republic had adjusted its offer to the WTO.
'Singapore strongly supports the negotiation process for basic domestic telecommunications services,' Mr Goh announced.
'We will be tabling an improved offer at the negotiations now under way.' Publicly listed Singapore Telecom has an exclusive right to provide basic services until 2007.
Under the new offer, the Telecommunication Authority will invoke its right to licence other companies from April 1, 2002, as long as the services they provide are ancillary and incidental to their principal services.
A deal on deregulating telecommunications markets is seen as a big test of the WTO, but has been threatened by the reluctance of some Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, to put in offers or improve on previous proposals.