In a government-led initiative to connect the island in a high-speed broadband network using various mediums such as fibre, DSL and cable, the Singapore ONE project was formally announced in June 1996, and commercially launched in June 1998. SINGAPORE – Asia Piling, a company involved in many public and commercial projects here, is the sub-contractor that hit critical underground fibre-optic cables, causing a 20-hour broadband outage to more than 5,000 households on April 18. In naming the sub-contractor, the Land Transport Authority. installation and throughout its operational lifespan. The cable also provides ease of handling during shipping and installation. This section will cover the various types of cable construction, and summarise many techniques and practices used by the industry today for installing fibres and. Keppel is co-developing the Bifrost Cable System, the first subsea fibre optic cable system directly connecting Singapore to the West Coast of North America via Indonesia through the Java Sea, Celebes Sea and Guam. Around 5,000 users in parts of Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Sengkang and Punggol were affected by the Apr 18. Two other Internet Service Providers (ISPs) quickly entered the fray: Pacific Internet in 1995 and Cyberway in 1996. This competitive landscape quickly benefitted consumers, making access more widespread. These were also the days of dial-up modems and their tell-tale, grating connecting tone. Singapore is an island state in South East Asia with a population just shy of five and a half million, surrounded by significantly larger economies both in terms of geographical size and population, as well as GDP.