Singapore plans to establish Smart Nation Platform

 Singapore is developing plans to establish a Smart Nation Platform to help get government, companies and individuals better involved in realizing its vision of a "smart" nation, Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim said on Tuesday.
The Smart Nation Platform will comprise components such as the communications backbone, sensor networks, data analytics and real- world applications, the Infocomm Development Authority said in a statement.
The platform will be developed in phases, with the first focusing on the connectivity and sensor aspects expected to be available by 2015.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of an industry event, Yaacob said that the Smart Nation Platform has three focus areas aimed to "connect, collect and comprehend."
In order for the nation to be better connected, its communications backbone will be strengthened and extended through the progressive deployment of the heterogeneous network and above- ground boxes that provide street-level Internet connectivity by supplying points for fiber access and power.
As for "collect" and "comprehend," they will involve the deployment of an operating system through which public agencies can access essential sensor data, which will be protected, managed, and shared to generate insights that will be helpful in anticipating citizens' needs and delivering services, Yaacob said.
The Infocomm Development Authority said the platform will " empower individuals, government and businesses alike."
"The Smart Nation Platform will serve as a foundation on which companies of all sizes, as well as government agencies, can experiment and innovate with new ways to collect, move and interpret data in order to better serve citizens," said Steve Leonard, executive deputy chairman of the authority.