Singapore SP Telecom partners with Nokia to build 5G network by 2020

Singapore network infrastructure provider SP Telecom announced today (June 17) a collaboration with Nokia to enable faster go-to-market solutions for 5G deployment in the city-state by 2020. 

Under this partnership, Nokia’s latest FP4-based service router, optical transport and cloud software solutions, together with other applications, will be incorporated into SP Telecom’s infrastructure, introducing a 5G-ready network to support customers delivering critical communications services.

This new network infrastructure will serve as an alternative to the existing one in the country.

Singapore at the forefront of 5G in Southeast Asia

Last month, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced that the government of Singapore is planning to roll out at least two nationwide 5G networks in 2020, placing it at the forefront of Southeast Asian countries that aim to do so.

Singapore’s three incumbent network operators – Singtel, StarHub and M1 – have all started 5G trials with industry partners, including a 5G pilot network in the one-north district, by Singtel and Ericsson.

5G data speeds are up to 20 times faster than peak 4G speeds, and can support one million devices per square kilometre.

A 5G network will also give users access to virtual reality content, allow live streaming of videos in 4K and 8K, and will support cloud gaming, which lets players use their phones and tablets to play games that traditionally require a laptop or PC.

Industry automation, autonomous vehicles, augmented and virtual reality, and remote robotics will also benefit from the new speeds brought by the fifth generation network.

A ‘seamless network’

When ready next year, SP Telecom’s intelligent data fibre network will enable both Fixed and 5G carriers to deploy Cloud-based Virtual Private Network (VPN) and 5G offerings for their government and enterprise customers.

5G carriers will also have the option of leveraging SP Telecom’s pervasive hubs around the island as locations for their 5G base stations, enabling computing and analysis at the edge of the network and delivering improved latency and network performance for end users.

“We are well poised to facilitate the rollout of 5G in Singapore, working closely with our technology partners to deliver a reliable, high-performance and seamless network for 5G players and their customers,” said Titus Yong, CEO of SP Telecom.

“Nokia is proud to be the technology partner with SP Telecom to embark on the digital journey to becoming a digital service provider. The Nokia solutions deliver a dynamic, highly scalable network for Cloud, Ultra-Broadband and internet of things (IoT) services in our partnership with SP Telecom,” added Stuart Hendry, Head of Transport, Energy and Public Sector for Asia Pacific and Japan, at Nokia.