Singapore – Singtel has entered into a strategic collaboration with Ericsson to support the development of 5G Advanced as a programmable, AI-enabled platform intended to support enterprise digital transformation and reinforce Singapore’s communications infrastructure over the coming decade. The initiative is positioned to contribute to the continued development of Singapore’s digital economy as demand for data-intensive and latency-sensitive applications increases.
The partnership is focused on evolving 5G capabilities beyond conventional connectivity by introducing differentiated services designed to deliver defined performance standards for businesses. As AI, immersive applications, connected transport systems and large-scale IoT deployments expand, the companies aim to enhance network functionality to support these requirements.
Under the agreement, Singtel plans to accelerate the commercial roll-out of end-to-end network slicing supported by enforceable service level agreements. This is intended to provide enterprises with dedicated, quality-assured connectivity tailored to use cases such as AI processing, augmented and extended reality environments, intelligent mobility solutions and extensive IoT networks.
The programme will also incorporate AI within the radio access network to optimise UX and operational performance, alongside programmable network features accessible through commercial application programming interfaces. Premium connectivity tiers are expected to serve sectors including enterprise, automotive, public administration and digital-native businesses.
“By embedding intelligence, programmability and service differentiation into our network, we are enabling enterprises to innovate with confidence and compete globally,” Tian Chong Ng, chief executive officer of Singtel Singapore, stated.
“This collaboration with Ericsson reinforces our commitment to pioneering innovation, empowering enterprises, and shaping the next chapter of connectivity in an increasingly AI-driven world.”
The companies have outlined a phased implementation timeline extending through 2026, 2028 and 2030. The roadmap is designed to support sustainable revenue models while enabling organisations to deploy new services on infrastructure prepared for future technological demands.
In parallel, the collaboration will advance AI-enabled automation across both core and radio access networks as Singtel works towards Level 4 network autonomy as defined by TM Forum. This approach involves closed-loop optimisation to enhance reliability and service performance, while strengthening cybersecurity safeguards and operational resilience.
The initiative further encompasses pilot programmes intended to demonstrate ecosystem impact through advanced applications. These include immersive augmented, virtual and extended reality services supported by edge computing architectures capable of delivering assured performance levels, as well as ultra-low-power device ecosystems across sectors such as logistics, utilities, retail, automotive and smart city services. The objective is to accelerate the adoption of enhanced network capabilities and establish pathways towards broader commercial deployment.
“As AI adoption accelerates amongst enterprises and public sector agencies, the demand for end-to-end 5G Advanced network capabilities and programmable network APIs will continue to grow,” Daniel Ode, head of Singapore, Philippines, and Brunei at Ericsson and global customer unit Singtel, commented.
“We are pleased to partner with Singtel to drive further innovation across network slicing and differentiated connectivity, as well as to efficiently scale and capture new growth opportunities together.”
Looking ahead, Singtel and Ericsson will examine technologies that may shape the progression towards next-generation networks.
Areas of exploration include integrated sensing and communication to enable infrastructure-based sensing services, uplink performance enhancements and the decoupling of uplink and downlink channels to accommodate AI-driven traffic patterns.
