900 Low-Income Pre-Qualified Households to enjoy Free Home Broadband and Tablets

New IM Bonding Learning
Project provides 1-to-1 tutorials for seniors
to  kick-start their digital journey

SINGAPORE, 31 MAY 2017 – The Infocomm Media Development Authority
(IMDA), together with the support from corporate sponsors 1 , will
provide 900 pre-qualified [2]
low-income households the opportunity to sign up for home broadband and
tablets, at no cost. The other low-income households can also enjoy subsidised
home broadband with the option to own a tablet. As part of IMDA’s Digital
Inclusion efforts to empower the vulnerable segments with access to technology,
the new IM Bonding Learning Project complements the aim by providing 1-to-1
dedicated tutorials for seniors from lowincome households to learn how to use
the tablet device and to navigate the Internet.

The IM Bonding Learning Project is a tripartite
collaboration among Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA),
Lions Befrienders (LB) and POSB, leveraging the respective parties’ area of
expertise in the public, people and private domains, to strengthen communities
through technology.

The senior participants at the workshop
were those who were keen to learn more about using the tablet and the Internet.
With guidance from the staff of POSB, seniors aged between 60s to 80s
experienced first-hand the immediacy of technology and how a technology tool
and the Internet can bring them closer to loved ones, and bring conveniences to
their lives. Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Communications and
Information & Ministry of Education, Dr Janil Puthucheary, attended the
session to encourage and recognise the efforts of the seniors who had stepped
forward to learn.

“As IMDA strives towards a digital economy
for Singapore, we are also nurturing a digital society where everyone is
connected. With the support from partners in the private and community sectors,
like POSB and Lions Befrienders, we are able to help more low-income families
access the internet and benefit from digital services,” said Mr Tan Kiat How,
Chief Executive, IMDA.

The IM Bonding
Learning Project comprises eight 3-hour per sessions, and will focus on using
technology for social connectedness. Participants from low-income households
can now have the chance to try out the tablet, and learn different useful IT
skills including basic introduction to the device and Internet, Digital TV,
e-Communication, social media, POSB’s Digibank and Paylah! apps, and more. The entire curriculum is spread out over an 8-week learning
journey.

Ms Susan Cheong, Head of POSB said, “As
the People’s Bank, POSB has served generations of Singaporeans and together
with many of our seniors today, we hold an important role in many of our nation
building initiatives. The world is becoming more digital and we want to play
our part to ensure that our seniors are not left behind. As we move together
towards Singapore’s vision of a digital future, we want to help empower our
seniors through this initiative and take full advantage of POSB’s suite of
digital banking services so as to enjoy greater convenience.”

The Home Access
Programme is part of the Digital Inclusion effort under IMDA. To-date about
8,000 low-income households [3]
have benefitted from the programme since 2014. The Home Access Programme
targets to benefit another 16,000 low-income families starting from April
2017.