Singapore – Singtel, a telecommunications firm, has recently announced its partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and HTX (Home Team Science and Technology Agency) to jointly introduce network slicing technology across Singapore, aiming to enhance their operational capabilities and safeguard the nation.
As part of the alliance, Singtel, alongside its partner companies, has developed a solution leveraging its advanced 5G technology to provide dedicated network resources. This includes reliable high-speed connectivity, low latency, and ample bandwidth, empowering the agencies to improve situational awareness, command and control operations, threat detection, and incident response.
The use of network slicing further enables agencies to adopt innovations like AI, robotics, and autonomous vehicles while securely processing large amounts of data, ensuring that first responders can respond decisively and rapidly.
According to the firm, this new collaboration builds on the trial conducted in July last year at Sentosa, where 5G technology was tested for video-intensive transmissions and autonomous control of unmanned vehicles and drones in partnership with DSTA and HTX.
Said trial was supported by the Digital and Intelligence Service and MINDEF’s Future Systems and Technology Directorate to validate the technology’s performance for operational use.
Ng Tian Chong, chief executive officer at Singtel Singapore, remarked, “As a homegrown technology company, our nation’s security is paramount to us. The threat landscape is growing increasingly more complex and cross-border in nature.”
“With Singtel’s 5G network capabilities, security agencies will be able to conduct their operations with high precision, imperative to safeguarding and ensuring the continuous success of Singapore,” he added.
Wong Chia Sern, director of infocomm infrastructure at DSTA, also said, “DSTA is constantly exploring and harnessing new technologies to strengthen Singapore’s defence capabilities. The high bandwidth, low latency characteristics, and network slicing capability of 5G hold great potential for use in defence applications, enhancing operational flexibility, effectiveness, and efficiency,” said
Meanwhile, Vincent Ho, director of enterprise comms and digital infra (xCDI) at HTX, stated, “In today’s digital and technologically augmented operating environment, reliable and stable connectivity is essential for Home Team operations.”
“As the usage for 5G in Singapore increases, it is imperative that we have a dedicated capacity that ensures Home Team operations are not affected even during scenarios where a surge in the number of network connections slows down data transmission speeds for normal users,” he further shared.
To address emerging quantum computing threats, Singtel has further launched Southeast Asia’s first national quantum-safe network and a pilot programme, enabling businesses to explore and adopt technologies that safeguard critical assets and data.
This initiative aligns with Singapore’s Digital Connectivity Blueprint, aimed at protecting enterprises and key infrastructure while advancing a future-ready digital economy.
