Singtel has announced a partnership with Ericsson to accelerate the evolution of 5G Advanced into a programmable, AI-powered digital platform.
The initiative announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2026) in Barcelona is designed to power enterprise transformation, strengthen Singapore’s digital economy, and future-proof national network infrastructure over the next decade.
As artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, intelligent mobility and massive IoT ecosystems scale rapidly, connectivity is shifting from best-effort infrastructure to differentiated, outcome-driven services. The partnership positions 5G Advanced as a high-performance, intelligent platform capable of delivering measurable business value across sectors.
5G Advanced as a Foundation for Singapore’s AI Future
Singtel views 5G Advanced not merely as a network upgrade, but as a foundational layer for Singapore’s AI-powered future. By embedding intelligence, programmability and service differentiation directly into its network architecture, the operator aims to empower enterprises to innovate confidently and compete on a global scale.
The collaboration will prioritize lighthouse programs that demonstrate measurable ecosystem impact, accelerating adoption and commercial scalability. Ericsson will support Singtel in driving innovation across network slicing, differentiated connectivity and programmable network APIs to meet growing enterprise and public sector demand.
Enhancing Network Performance and Customer Experience
A key pillar of the initiative is the accelerated commercial deployment of end-to-end network slicing with enforceable service level agreements. This will enable enterprises to access premium, quality-assured connectivity tailored for:
AI workloads requiring deterministic performance
AR, VR and XR applications
Smart mobility and automotive services
Large-scale IoT ecosystems
The roadmap includes:
AI-in-RAN capabilities to optimize customer experience and network efficiency
Programmable network features exposed through commercial APIs
Premium service tiers designed for enterprise, automotive, public sector and digital-native customers
With a phased rollout planned through 2026, 2028 and 2030, Singtel aims to unlock scalable, recurring revenue streams while giving enterprises the confidence to innovate on robust digital infrastructure.
Advancing AI-Native Network Operations
Singtel and Ericsson will also drive AI-enabled automation across both core and radio access networks, progressing toward Level 4 network autonomy as defined by the TM Forum framework.
This AI-native approach enables closed-loop optimization to enhance reliability, strengthen cybersecurity and improve resilience. Enhanced spectrum utilization and capacity efficiency will help meet growing data demand while reducing operational complexity and costs. By embedding intelligence across operations, Singtel seeks to reinforce service assurance and long-term cost competitiveness.
Enabling 3GPP-Enhanced Services and Emerging Use Cases
The collaboration will pursue lighthouse programs demonstrating tangible ecosystem benefits. These include immersive AR, VR and XR applications powered by edge-enabled architectures that guarantee performance, as well as ultra-low-power device ecosystems across logistics, utilities, retail, automotive and smart city environments.
Such initiatives aim to accelerate commercial adoption, unlock new revenue opportunities and create clear pathways to scalable deployment.
Preparing for Next-Generation Networks
Looking beyond current deployments, Singtel and Ericsson will explore forward-looking capabilities shaping next-generation networks. Areas of focus include:
Integrated Sensing and Communication for sensing-enabled infrastructure services
Uplink enhancements and uplink/downlink decoupling to address AI-driven traffic demands
Architectural evolution to enhance robustness, resilience and spectrum efficiency
Through this collaboration, Singtel reinforces its leadership in mobile connectivity and positions Singapore at the forefront of AI-driven 5G innovation, ensuring that next-generation networks deliver performance differentiation, operational excellence and sustainable economic growth.