SINGAPORE Telecom's corporate pay-TV ambitions got a boost yesterday from a $21 million deal to provide a multimedia entertainment system and other technology services to Genting Singapore's Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).

Under the seven-year contract, the operator will equip all 1,800 rooms at the integrated resort's six hotels with an in-room entertainment system and high-speed wireless Internet.

Guests will be able to surf wirelessly and access computer games, music and content from SingTel's mio TV service.

RWS is one of the first corporate backers of the operator's fledgling pay television service, which until recently has been offered to consumers only.

Businesses such as hotels, restaurants and pubs are central to SingTel's pay-TV strategy, as they could be more lucrative than the consumer segment. Having paid a premium for the English Premier League (EPL) broadcast rights, SingTel also needs to tap the corporate segment to help recoup costs.

SingTel previously told BT it has conducted in- house trials to see how it can deliver mio TV content such as the EPL to business customers.

Besides wireless Internet and multimedia entertainment, SingTel will also deploy a location-based mobile advertising service for RWS.

This will allow guests to receive text and multimedia messages when they are near pre-defined locations. For example, a customer might receive an electronic dining coupon via their mobile phone when they are walking towards a particular restaurant.

The multi-million dollar contract also includes a system to manage and track RWS' fleet of limousines.