There are now over 40,000 subscribers with a penetration rate of 16 percent. The telecommunications infrastructure in the country will be further improved with the creation of the Trans-Borneo Optical Cable Network. The initial phase of project is scheduled to be completed some time in 1999. IP Telephony No Internet telephony services are offered in Brunei at this time. Subscribers from the academic, business and public sectors currently connect to the Internet through three main toll free numbers.
Plans are now underway to meet the requirements of future electronic commerce activities.
Currently, Internet subscriptions have reached nearly 13,000 with a target of 22,000 by 2000. An e-commerce national awareness seminar was held in August 1999. Its objectives were to make the public, particularly SMEs, aware of services available in Brunei for utilizing e-commerce solutions in their businesses. BruPost currently provides an Internet home shopping network. At this time, it is not known whether further e-commerce activities will be added to this project.