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Singtel and Ericsson have extended their collaboration, which was announced seven months ago, with a new five-year strategic partnership that establishes a longer roadmap for scaling 5G Advanced and AI-powered network capabilities across a range of industries in Singapore.
In a joint statement, the two partners announced their intention to prioritize the wider commercial deployment of advanced connectivity solutions in industries where network performance has an impact on operational efficiency, productivity and safety.
Singtel Singapore's CEO, Ng Tian Chong, pointed out that as AI becomes more embedded in people's daily lives, networks will need to support far more complex applications. These range from autonomous machines and real-time analytics to everyday AI tools.
"Our priority is to make these capabilities more widely accessible and commercially viable, while continuing to strengthen the reliability, security and performance of our network. Through this partnership we’re ensuring Singapore's connectivity infrastructure continues to evolve alongside the needs of its people and businesses, supporting new opportunities for innovation and growth in the AI era," Ng said.
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Under their new agreement, Singtel and Ericsson will work together to identify opportunities within major infrastructure and industrial projects such as Changi Airport Terminal 5, Bulim Square and the latest developments by JTC. Potential applications include autonomous mobility, intelligent inspection systems, real-time video analytics and remote monitoring.
Furthermore, the Singaporean telecom operator plans to build on existing deployments by extending network slicing and programmable connectivity to support more sophisticated, AI-powered applications. These include autonomous vehicles, industrial robotics, smart manufacturing and intelligent logistics. Such applications require dedicated network capacity, low latency and consistent performance in order to enable connected machines, sensors and AI systems to operate and respond in real time.
PSA Singapore currently uses a network slice from Singtel's 5G network to track shipments in real time and streamline crane operations at Tuas Port. The port operator also uses the network slice to create secure, private networks tailored to the port's specific security needs.
5G+ on-demand connectivity
In consumer services, Singtel and Ericsson have collaborated to enhance the operator's 5G+ network.
The two companies have recently introduced technology that enables peak uplink speeds of up to 250 Mbit/s on compatible, newer devices. This allows for the faster transmission of high-definition video and other data-intensive content, and supports applications such as live streaming, remote monitoring and AI-powered video analytics.
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Under their new agreement, Singtel and Ericsson will continue to increase uplink speeds as they explore offering on-demand options that allow subscribers to access higher network performance when required.
Integrating AI into network operations
The two companies will also explore ways to progressively integrate AI into network operations, with the aim of improving Singtel's ability to anticipate, manage and respond to changing connectivity demands.
Singtel and Ericsson stated that they have recently made progress in using AI to enhance network performance.
A live network trial of AI-powered radio access network capabilities demonstrated a 19% improvement in throughput. This illustrates the potential of AI to optimize network resources and manage increasing traffic demands more efficiently.
Over the next five years, the two partners intend to use AI and machine learning to improve the prediction of traffic patterns, optimize the use of network resources and identify potential performance issues at an earlier stage.
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By deploying greater automation across radio and core networks, Singtel aims to improve operational efficiency, optimize energy consumption and strengthen service assurance.
"By combining 5G, 5G Advanced, and AI-native operational capabilities, we are scaling programmable, differentiated connectivity to support Singapore’s digital ambitions, unlock new opportunities for critical industries and enhance everyday digital experiences," said Daniel Ode, head of Ericsson Singapore, Brunei and Philippines and Global Customer Unit Singtel.
About the Author
Senior Editor, APAC, Light Reading
Gigi Onag is Senior Editor, APAC, Light Reading. She has been a technology journalist for more than 15 years, covering various aspects of enterprise IT across Asia-Pacific.
She started with regional IT publications under CMP Asia (now Informa), including Asia Computer Weekly, Intelligent Enterprise Asia and Network Computing Asia and Teledotcom Asia. This was followed by stints with Computerworld Hong Kong and sister publications FutureIoT and FutureCIO. She had contributed articles to South China Morning Post, TechTarget and PC Market among others.
She interspersed her career as a technology editor with a brief sojourn into public relations before returning to journalism, joining the editorial team of Mix Magazine, a MICE publication and its sister publication Business Traveller Asia Pacific.
Gigi is based in Hong Kong and is keen to delve deeper into the region’s wide wild world of telecoms.