On Tuesday (28 Feb), Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo announced a new scheme in Parliament. Under the scheme, lower-income families can apply for subsidised broadband services and digital devices like laptops.
The scheme is called DigitalAccess@Home and seeks to promote connectivity among households in need.
According to the Ministry for Communications and Information (MCI), those eligible can benefit from the scheme from 3 Apr onwards.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (28 Feb), Mrs Teo said that 92% of Singapore households have access to a computer.
Source: MCI Singapore on YouTube
Meanwhile, 99% of households have broadband services.
While this is the vast majority, the new S$80 million scheme aims to help the remaining percentage of households.
According to Mrs Teo, 60,000 low-income families will benefit from the scheme.
To qualify for DigitalAccess@Home, households must meet three main criteria:
Source: Jeffrey Tay on Facebook
However, there is a higher income ceiling for families with primary school students or persons with disabilities.
In such cases, the gross and per capita income ceilings will be raised to S$3,400 and S$900 respectively.
Mrs Teo highlighted that households eligible for the connectivity scheme can choose from three packages — broadband-only, device-only, or both broadband and device.
According to MCI, households have the freedom to choose between different broadband speeds and tablet as well as laptop models.
Furthermore, broadband and device prices will vary according to the type of HDB flat and the model chosen.
Source: Burst on Unsplash
For broadband subscriptions, those staying in one to three-room flats stand to pay S$10 a month.
Meanwhile, households in bigger units have to pay S$15 a month.
However, those currently under Government assistance schemes such as the Public Rental Scheme only have to pay S$5 a month for 500 Mbps broadband.
As for digital devices, tablets range between S$75 to S$250 while laptops are in the S$220 to S$710 ballpark.
To avoid the need for multiple applications, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will be working closely with other Government agencies.
For a start, the Ministry of Social and Family Development will automatically refer ComCare beneficiaries to DigitalAccess@Home when they sign up for the former.
Otherwise, applicants can apply online or through hard copy. Those who wish to seek more information may check out the Digital for Life website here.
They can also reach out to any of the SG Digital community hubs for help.
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.
Featured image adapted from Ryutaro Tsukata on Pexels.
Mixue will be giving out 1,000 vouchers at each store.
The bubble tea store covered the car wash fee and gave him a new drink.
The man reportedly stabbed her in the face, neck, and abdomen 58 times.
Some netizens felt "nobody" would buy such an unusual combination.
The act was seemingly carried out in the name of a climate activist group.
The baby girl was unresponsive and died in the hospital.