PUBLISHED ONJuly 28, 2015 1:03 AM
Singapore Power (SP) said yesterday that it is giving the nation free use of 200 mobile charging stations for SG50.
The stations will be rolled out progressively in high-traffic locations islandwide, including hospitals, tertiary institutions, libraries and supermarkets.
At least 20 stations are expected to be installed by the middle of next month, with about 40 more added monthly. All units are expected to be in place by December and will be permanent fixtures.
Each unit has 10 individual slots, which contain multiple charging tips such as mini and micro USBs to fit most mobile phones and tablets, and a blank USB port for users to insert their own charging cables.
To use the charging station, members of the public can follow the on-screen instructions displayed in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil.
They will need to scan the barcode of a personal identification card such as their NRIC, driving licence, student pass or senior citizen concession card, and create a 4-digit personal identification number (PIN) before plugging in their device.
The same two-step authentication process is used to retrieve the device.
Speaking at the unveiling at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) yesterday, SP Group chief executive Wong Kim Yin said the "Gift Of Power" is aimed at alleviating the stress of modern life by helping Singaporeans stay connected.
"Almost all of us carry a mobile phone with us, and running out of power can be distressing. This allows us to get a power boost on the go while attending to other daily tasks," he said.
There are eight charging stations up and running now.
Three are located at SGH - two at the Academia building and one at the Singapore National Eye Centre - and five at FairPrice supermarkets in Hougang Street 21, Ang Mo Kio Hub, Thomson Plaza, nex and The Woodgrove.
This article was first published on July 28, 2015.
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