1. "Expect more reliable North-South, East-West Lines by 2019: Khaw Boon Wan
SINGAPORE: Commuters can expect huge improvements in the reliability of the North-South East-West Lines (NSEWL) within the next two years – if core systems are replaced on schedule, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said on Tuesday (Sep 12).
“Replacing all these core systems takes years, with full completion by 2024,” he said in prepared remarks provided to the media. “But each time we replace a core system, we make significant progress on this long journey.
“We do not have to wait till 2024 to experience the improvements in reliability. If we keep on track, commuters will be able to experience vast improvements in reliability by 2019.”
On Tuesday, the completion ceremony of the power rail replacement project for the NSEWL was held at Bishan Depot. The power rail – together with the sleepers, signalling system, power supply, track circuits and trains – form the core systems of the NSEWL."
It is always good to have HOPE when all seems lost as long as it does not concerned death! So, Minister Khaw is right to focus on the positive despite some negative still exist. And for some, at unacceptable level currently.
Like the government said: if you are so good, you come and fix it lah!
2. "Singapore payments provider NETS to roll out mobile wallet by end-2017
SINGAPORE: NETS on Tuesday (Sep 12) announced its plans to roll out its NETS Pay mobile wallet before the end of the year, and that it will be equipped for use outside Singapore.
“Replacing all these core systems takes years, with full completion by 2024,” he said in prepared remarks provided to the media. “But each time we replace a core system, we make significant progress on this long journey.
“We do not have to wait till 2024 to experience the improvements in reliability. If we keep on track, commuters will be able to experience vast improvements in reliability by 2019.”
On Tuesday, the completion ceremony of the power rail replacement project for the NSEWL was held at Bishan Depot. The power rail – together with the sleepers, signalling system, power supply, track circuits and trains – form the core systems of the NSEWL."
It is always good to have HOPE when all seems lost as long as it does not concerned death! So, Minister Khaw is right to focus on the positive despite some negative still exist. And for some, at unacceptable level currently.
Like the government said: if you are so good, you come and fix it lah!
2. "Singapore payments provider NETS to roll out mobile wallet by end-2017
SINGAPORE: NETS on Tuesday (Sep 12) announced its plans to roll out its NETS Pay mobile wallet before the end of the year, and that it will be equipped for use outside Singapore.
The local payments provider said during a briefing that its mobile wallet will work like those currently in the market such as Apple Pay or Android Pay - in terms of the authentication process.
The difference is that it will be able to accept not just credit or debit cards, but NETS ATM cards too.
NETS is also working with one of the members of EMVCo - an industry organisation that exists to facilitate worldwide interoperability and acceptance of secure payment transactions - to ensure its mobile wallet can be used overseas, said CEO Jeffrey Goh.
EMVCo members include American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, UnionPay and Visa.
With the mobile wallet, this would allow NETS to “digitise” ATM bank cards by incorporating them on users’ smartphones with near-field communication (NFC) capability, thus enabling contactless payment with their mobile devices, Mr Goh explained."
While we sometimes accuse Singaporeans from looking to government to start strategic things, it is NO DENYING that in some areas, GOVERNMENT's lead and push DOES produce Results MUCH MUCH faster than the 'free market where competitors are all in friendly terms' and not the "you don't know who is going to kill you next with FREE services/apps that are much better than what you have to offer' like Uber vs. the taxi companies, etc.
For ePayment, after PM Lee's recent NDR Speech, NEXT suddenly sprung to life and have front page coverage with ePayment and now this Mobile (still a form of ePayment)! So, government must ACT when it needs to. And leave the free market along when its involvement is not productive! A delicate 'push or pull' balance. The one that get it right can be most productive!
The difference is that it will be able to accept not just credit or debit cards, but NETS ATM cards too.
NETS is also working with one of the members of EMVCo - an industry organisation that exists to facilitate worldwide interoperability and acceptance of secure payment transactions - to ensure its mobile wallet can be used overseas, said CEO Jeffrey Goh.
EMVCo members include American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, UnionPay and Visa.
With the mobile wallet, this would allow NETS to “digitise” ATM bank cards by incorporating them on users’ smartphones with near-field communication (NFC) capability, thus enabling contactless payment with their mobile devices, Mr Goh explained."
While we sometimes accuse Singaporeans from looking to government to start strategic things, it is NO DENYING that in some areas, GOVERNMENT's lead and push DOES produce Results MUCH MUCH faster than the 'free market where competitors are all in friendly terms' and not the "you don't know who is going to kill you next with FREE services/apps that are much better than what you have to offer' like Uber vs. the taxi companies, etc.
For ePayment, after PM Lee's recent NDR Speech, NEXT suddenly sprung to life and have front page coverage with ePayment and now this Mobile (still a form of ePayment)! So, government must ACT when it needs to. And leave the free market along when its involvement is not productive! A delicate 'push or pull' balance. The one that get it right can be most productive!
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