The hazardous haze engulfing Singapore has forced NG-NBN netco OpenNet to halt the rollout until further notice.
The company said its key sub-contractor has suspended all fiber installation and repair work until further notice.
OpenNet said the stop-work order was given to “safeguard the health of its authorized contractor’s workers.”
Affected installation appointments will be rescheduled, and OpenNet said safety measures will be implemented upon resumption of work to give workers some relief from the smog.
Singapore has for days been blanketed by smog caused by raging forest fires in Indonesia. The situation has caused daily health warnings in the city state – on Friday, Singapore’s Pollutant Standards Index hit a record 401.
The haze has raised concerns about its potential economic impact on tourism, as well as productivity, with many residents looking to flee the city while the smog persists.
OpenNet, a consortium jointly owned by SingTel, is building Singapore's NG-NBN fiber network. The company won the netco contract in 2008.
While the smog delays are unavoidable and aren't likely to have a significant impact on the rollout schedule, it's worth noting that the company has in the past come under fire for delays connecting and activating subscribers.