Wireless in Singapore... NOT!
It does work ...i am a malaysian and have been to singapore so many times and have been using Wireless@SG ...it worked perhaps you just don't know how to log in correctly ...
Posted by Madhavan Veloo on Sunday, January 11 2009 01:39 AM

Wireless in Singapore... NOT!
I can also confirm it works. I am from San Francisco and I don't have any cellphone accounts in Singapore. When I was there all I had to do was to open my laptop and register online. No SMS was needed

You probably didn't do it right, as the above poster said.
Posted by Battwann on Sunday, January 11 2009 03:44 AM

Wireless in Singapore... NOT!
I didn't say it doesn't work in general. What I meant is I couldnt' get it to work. Whether it's because there was a glitch in the system or whether because I'm too daft to enter username and password, the fact of the matter is I couldn't get online in Changi because Wireless@SG requires registration. KLIA doesn't.

In other words, KLIA's Wi-Fi is idiot-proof so that Luddites like me who don't even know how to enter username and password can still have access to the Internet.
Posted by Oon Yeoh on Sunday, January 11 2009 03:59 AM

Wireless in Singapore... NOT!
Wireless@SG is an overly complicated system. I am a singaporean and the registration process is not simple. Even when u do get registered its difficult to get connected. And when u do finally get in, youwill be bounced out afew minutes later and have to log-in all over again.

If you are using a mobile to surf imagine typing in user name and password every 5 minutes. To the Singapore Govt, if you intend to offer it, then make sure it is USABLE. Otherwise pls dont try to sell it to the tourists.
Posted by John Tan on Sunday, January 11 2009 08:01 AM

Wireless in Singapore... NOT!
Not sure if you noticed, but there are free terminal provided at Changi Airport for free internet access. No laptops required.
Posted by Alex on Sunday, January 11 2009 10:18 AM

Wireless in Singapore... NOT!
Yes, but they always occupied.

Today's business travellers carry laptops. Whether in transit or whether just waiting for a meeting to start, they want to do some work or check e-mails.

Why not just make it easy for them and provide free Wi-Fi access without registration?

The problem I found with Wireless@SG is this. The registration via SMS simply did not work. SingTel sent me a username and password. I entered username and password. It simply did not work.

Then I tried registering with another provider that didn't require SMS but they required me to retrieve the username and password through my e-mail. How do I access e-mail if I don't have Internet access in the first place?

Simple solution: Free Wi-Fi without registration. As a convenience to travellers. Why not?
Posted by Oon Yeoh on Sunday, January 11 2009 02:25 PM

Wireless in Singapore... NOT!
the username and password process is probably required for security reasons. all it takes is for one passenger to experience unauthorised access to his/her laptop then an ugly complaint + possible lawsuit would follow.
Posted by anonymous on Sunday, January 11 2009 04:59 PM

Wireless in Singapore...NOT!
when it is an open free for all access system, your computer is not protected against others trying to steal your information. indeed it is easier to set up such a system than to build in some security.
Posted by anonymous on Monday, January 12 2009 04:17 PM

Wireless in Singapore...NOT!
There is a legacy behind wireless@sg.

Wireless@sg is not set up by a single operator, but 3 service providers that were already providing the service since the free wifi inception a couple of years back. These service providers were already using Macdonald's and starbucks and such as hotspots. Users had to register and pay for the service to the providers.

News found here: www.zdnetasia.com...

so basically, we cant get away w/o registration because these 3 providers hope to capture as many user base as possible during the 'free' period for obvious reasons.
Posted by Jerry Tan on Monday, January 12 2009 11:17 AM

Wireless in Singapore...NOT!
well... look at it this way, the registration process is to try to discourage potential abuse of the wireless network...

imagine a terrorist using the free wireless (a public unsecured network) to do some nasty stuff... think of a nasty virus entering your pc from a public network, think of pirates sniffing data off the wireless network (you could still do it without connecting to the network, a direct connection makes it easier)... would you want to be a victim of data theft?

sometimes you just have to think of the reason why things were implemented. if the government wanted a totally free islandwide network accessible to all without registration, they could have done it! but think of why they had to implement the registration process.

penny for your thoughts...
Posted by anonymous on Friday, January 23 2009 06:43 PM

Wireless in Singapore...NOT!
How does this registration process stop abuse of the network? There's no real name, no identification cited. You can put fake details in.

This is faux security, and is a major inconvienence to travellers at Changi. Major disappointment.

To other travellers, there is an open wifi AP at the 24hr cafes in Term 2. None at the budget terminal that I know of (yet!)
Posted by Tiang on Friday, January 30 2009 12:41 PM

Wireless in Singapore...NOT!
Hong Kong International Airport has free WiFi throughout as well. No registration required. If HK can do it, why not SG? Both are supposed to be world-class cities.
Posted by Ed Xavier on Wednesday, January 28 2009 06:19 PM

Wireless in Singapore...NOT!
This is why -> www.watblog.com... For more info, google "India wireless terrorist".

We won't abuse free wifi, but someone else will. That is why account registration should include personal data that is trackable. In the event that he abuse the service, he can be tracked and arrested.
Posted by Steven on Monday, February 09 2009 10:11 AM

Wireless in Singapore...NOT!
I was in SGP last week with my Australian iPhone and never managed to get wifi working, even after spending an hour in a Singtel store. Compare this to the Metro Cafe in Phnom Penh where I had my email on my iPhone within minutes of getting my coffee. Maybe the tourist authorities in SGP should try a bit harder. Or maybe they are protecting the SGP hotels with their overpriced in room wired internet - so very last century!
Posted by anonymous on Tuesday, February 10 2009 04:28 PM

Wireless in Singapore...NOT!
bear with me here, i know this article is a bit outdated, but i just want to make some things clear here.

firstly, there is always a PURPOSE for everything, and in this case, the registration is to ensure that there is less of a chance that someone would abuse the free internet usage and get away with it. By registering with your NRIC/FIN, and your phone number, it would enable the authorities to track down any abuser of the system.

another thing to point out. Singaporeans are not hungry lions waiting to pounce on foreigners who come to Singapore. You could have ASKED ANY SINGAPOREAN FOR HELP. Besides, if you had asked the waitress "Do you have Wi-Fi?", why didn't you ask her to help you with the login procedure? I'm sure she would have gladly helped you, if you had ASKED. Ask, and ye receive.

And please, the most probable reason why you, JOHN TAN, bounced out while using Wireless@SG, is because you were in an area where THE WIFI SIGNAL WAS WEAK. Sometimes, when internet traffic is high, it can also cause the internet to become laggy. If you find the need to reenter your login ID and password a hassle, then SAVE THE USERNAME AND PASSWORD, so you don't have to reenter it again. Whatsmore, the service is FREE. You get what you pay for, and in this instant, YOU ARE PAYING NOTHING. Yes, Singaporeans do pay GST and other forms of taxes, but so do people of other nationalities in their countries. It isn't cheap to maintain high speed broadband throughout the island either, so the government has to compromise in one way or the other, to provide the service, while at the same time ensuring that singaporeans like YOU don't flood their offices with complaint letters about the government spending public funds 'unwisely'.

And regarding the issue of Singapore and Hong Kong being 'World-Class Cities', Ed Xavier, just because both Singapore and Hong Kong are similar in various aspects, it doesn't mean that the policies that are implemented will suffice for both, nor does it mean that it would work out the same for both countries. Besides, I don't see how the issue of registration or no registration for free WIFI can be the determining factor for a 'World-Class City', whatever that is.

As for the probability that the government is 'protecting the SGP hotels with their overpriced in room wired internet', that is just plain lame. Hotels provide wired access to the internet, which is definately a way faster form of internet access than the one provided by Wireless@SG. So, for businessmen who have to work while in their hotels in Singapore, the in room wired internet would be the better choice, as it wouldn't cause disruptions to their work. Stop being so cheapskate, and just pay for it. If you want to scrimp on stuff like that, then I suggest you cut down on expensive dinners, and reduce your alcohol intake instead. Besides, hotels in other countries aren't providing internet access at a rate cheaper than that found in Singapore hotels. One in Hong Kong charged me SGD$20 a day, and one in Bangkok charged SGD$15.

In all, I really don't see why the author had to compare Changi Airport with Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Yes, KLIA provides registration-free internet access, but does it come with any other security measures to prevent your information from getting stolen? Does it guarantee that your computer won't be tracked by hackers, trying to obtain corporate information from your laptop? And if that does happen, will the authorities be responsible? Will it be any easier for them to track down the hacker?

The Singapore government put in place the registration process for security reasons, and wanted to ensure that every person, regardless of whether he or she is a Singaporean, would be able to use the system without having to worry about his or her information being stolen by someone through Wireless@SG. Heck, the government could have followed every other country, and just provided free internet access without registration. All these security measures cost money, and needless to say, the government would have had carried out discussions regarding the issue, before deciding that there was a need to impose the registration process.

I agree that Wireless@SG is sometimes irritating and cumbersome to use, but at the very least it is FREE and SECURE. If you find the registration process a hassle, THEN DON'T USE IT. Years back, the system wasn't even in place, so count your blessings that the government made the effort to provide FREE ISLAND-WIDE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

And you know what, the registration process for Wireless@SG is already as idiot-proof as it can be. All you need to do is enter your personal details, and wait for your password, before keying it in AS IT WAS SENT TO YOU. If the letter is in capital-form, THEN ENTER IT AS A CAPITAL LETTER. If you still can't get it to work, then REQUEST FOR A NEW PASSWORD. I really don't see how this sytem is not idiot-proof.

If you want to criticise the system on the internet, please think about what you could have done to solve the problem instead. And for your info the 'username and password would be sent to my e-mail address.' info is supposed to mean that your username and password would, IN ADDITION TO THE SMS, be sent to your email address. Please get your facts right, as you could potentially mislead millions of others on the internet.
Posted by anonymous on Saturday, August 22 2009 06:58 PM