Singtel secures 3.5GHz mmWave license for 5G

Singtel has been officially awarded the 3.5GHz and the millimetre wave spectrum as part of the 5G licence issued by the Infocomm Media Development Authority in Singapore.

This paves the way for Singtel’s nationwide 5G rollout that will not only massively boost the quality of connectivity of its services but set the stage for extensive digital innovation that will prove transformative for industries, businesses and how people work and live.

“We are excited to get this greenlight to lead and shape 5G in Singapore by building a world-class, secure and resilient 5G network that will serve as the backbone of Singapore’s digital economy. More than a business investment, we see this as a significant investment in Singapore’s digital future as 5G spurs innovation among enterprises and industries, creating new businesses, jobs and economic value in the process,” said Singtel, Group CEO, Chua Sock Koong. “This licence is also very timely in light of Covid-19 and the ensuing reliance on robust infrastructure and connectivity. Our existing network capabilities have allowed us to pivot quickly to the needs of the public and businesses at this critical time and 5G will help extend and accelerate the digital adoption we’ve witnessed as we navigate our way out of Covid-19 towards recovery.”

Singtel will build on the momentum created from ongoing 5G trials in the fields of port operations, manufacturing and cloud gaming to offer the most transformative services and solutions to support Singapore’s digital economy.

“As a company, we intend to move beyond access and connectivity to create new enterprise use cases and innovative platforms, applications and services to reposition ourselves for growth in the converging eco-systems of tech and telecoms,” Chua added. “As our subsidiary Optus in Australia and our regional associates forge ahead with their 5G strategies, the Group will leverage this experience and scale to build a robust 5G ecosystem with the right partners across our footprint.”

After a rigorous tender process, Singtel has selected Ericsson to commence a period of negotiation to provide the 5G SA Core, RAN and mmWave network, with a view to finalising the contractual terms as soon as practicable.

Singtel has been test-bedding new consumer and enterprise 5G solutions through various trials with key technology vendors and public service agencies. This includes working with the PSA on developing port-related 5G use cases such as drones and crane automation at the Pasir Panjang Terminal, exploring how 5G can enable Industry 4.0 manufacturing technologies at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre, and testing network readiness for 5G cloud gaming with IMDA and Razer.

Singtel is also driving 5G innovation at the 5G Garage together with Ericsson and Singapore Polytechnic, a live facility where enterprises can develop and test 5G solutions. In the same vein, Singtel’s Centre of Digital Excellence helps enterprise customers realise the value and speed up the adoption of 5G in their digital transformation journeys.

In a first for Singapore, Singtel is bringing 5G to life for consumers at its unmanned 24/7 pop-up retail store, UNBOXED, which has been outfitted with live 5G connectivity. With 5G powering all self-serve kiosks and sentinel surveillance systems within the store, UNBOXED can now be relocated anywhere without laying fibre cables and serve customers with faster transactions. From late July, customers can get a taste of a 5G future while trying out applications such as cloud gaming, 360⁰ immersive entertainment, augmented reality education, as well as checking out the latest 5G mobile devices.