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From Buffering to Beamforming: Singapore’s 5G Policies Explained Loud and Clear
- Siddant Vaduvur and Bryan Pak
- 12 minutes ago
- 9 min read
In this Explainer, find out...
What is 5G, and what are the differences between it and 4G?
What policies have been implemented to support the development of 5G infrastructure in Singapore?
What are the benefits and concerns that have emerged in Singapore with the introduction of 5G technology?
Introduction
Imagine a city where autonomous vehicles drive through the streets. That seems unbelievable, right? Fortunately, this is not a sci-fi fantasy, but what Singapore can accomplish with the use of 5G technology.
As one of the first countries in the world to achieve nationwide 5G standalone coverage, and the first country to extend 5G standalone coverage to the sea, Singapore is among the global forerunners in implementing 5G technology.
But how exactly did a tiny city state succeed in implementing 5G technology? This Policy Explainer will
delve into what 5G is, the policies implemented by the Government, and the benefits and concerns that have emerged due to 5G.
Introducing 5G
What is 5G?
5G stands for the fifth generation of cellular network technology, and is the successor to 4G. 5G operates across multiple frequency bands, which are different wave types that vary in coverage and speed. It also uses advanced technologies such as massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), beamforming and network slicing.
But what are these technical jargons? The next sections will break it down for you.
Massive MIMO
Massive MIMO uses a large number of antennas at both the transmitter and receiver, to send and receive more data. This allows for more efficient use of the radio spectrum and provides higher capacity to support more users simultaneously.
Beamforming
Beamforming is a signal processing technique that focuses a signal in a specific direction, instead of a traditional antenna that transmits signals in all directions. This improves the signal quality, which leads to more stable connections.
Network Slicing
Network slicing allows a single physical network to be divided into multiple virtual slices, each optimised for specific use cases. Each slice operates independently, allowing the 5G network to support many applications without any interference between slices.
Current Trends
Singapore experienced significant changes in its data consumption in the last 10 years, justifying the implementation of an upgraded network. One major development is the rapid growth in internet capacity (the capacity needed to transmit all internet traffic). From June 2015 to December 2018, the total internet capacity in Singapore grew from 3 million Mbps to over 14 million Mbps. This means that Singapore as a nation went from having enough bandwidth to stream the equivalent of 50 4K movies every second to about 250 4K movies a second!
Another key trend in Singapore contributing to increased data usage is smartphone usage. A 2015 survey showed that Singapore had one of the highest penetration rates for smartphone usage in the world, with 90 per cent of respondents indicating that they have access to one. The high smartphone usage not only leads to increased capacity, but also a need for a more extensive coverage of high speed data, as Singaporeans will need access to fast and reliable internet while outside their homes.
As a result, these developments required Singapore to upgrade its current network to support the increased traffic.
5G Infrastructure in Singapore
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) oversees the 5G policies that are implemented in Singapore. It supports the growth of 5G in Singapore in three ways: allocating the 5G spectrum, funding innovation and developing 5G talents.
Spectrum Allocation
IMDA regulates the 5G market in Singapore by allocating different parts of the 5G spectrum to mobile network operators. This has been done by issuing Calls for Proposals to telecommunications companies in Singapore. This aims to ensure that at least two nationwide 5G networks are established, so as to foster sustainable competition.
In October 2019, IMDA issued the first Call for Proposal documents to mobile network operators for the 5G spectrum, focusing on the 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) band. Three submissions were received by February 2020: one from Singtel, one from TPG Telecom and a joint submission from StarHub and M1. In April 2020, IMDA selected Singtel and the joint submission by StarHub and M1 as the winners of its 5G Call for Proposal. By June 2020, both Singtel and the StarHub and M1 joint venture were allocated spectrum in the 3.5 GHz bands.
5G Innovation Programme
Launched by IMDA in 2021, the 5G Innovation Programme is a S$30 million fund that aims to accelerate 5G projects across various sectors. There are six strategic clusters identified by IMDA: Maritime Operations, Urban Mobility, Smart Estates, Industry 4.0, Consumer Applications, and Government Applications. Some examples of how the 5G Innovation Programme has supported projects are described below.
Maritime Operations
In 2019, IMDA partnered with the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore and PSA Singapore to explore how 5G technologies can be applied in the maritime sector. M1 and Singtel are testing the application of 5G at Pasir Panjang Terminal for Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV). As of 2021, four out of 30 AGVs relied on 5G to move cargo. In the future, PSA Singapore hopes to operate over 2,000 5G-powered AGVs in the upcoming Tuas Megaport.
5G technology allows for a close-to-immediate response, with latencies of one millisecond and speeds of 20 gigabits per second. This is a large improvement from 4G, which can only operate up to 400 AGVs at a given time. Due to 5G’s faster speeds, lower latency and higher reliability, this allows for greater and more seamless movement of cargo.
Industry 4.0
The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, is driven by advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics. IMDA partnered with Hyundai to pioneer the world’s first 5G-enabled electric vehicle factory at the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre Singapore (HMGICS) in 2023. More than a hundred 5G-enabled robots were deployed on the factory floor to transport materials for vehicle manufacturing.
The 5G technology allows for real-time data transmission between the control system and the robots. This enhances productivity and quality control. For the workers, it will reduce their labour intensity, increase their safety, and allow them to take on higher-value roles, for example as robotics engineers, data analysts and process engineers. Around 50 per cent of all tasks at HMGICS are carried out by robots. The centre aims to produce up to 30,000 vehicles per year by 2025.
Consumer Applications
IMDA, in partnership with National University Health System (NUHS), Microsoft, Singtel and apoQlar GmbH, has developed new 5G-enabled mixed reality (MR) technology for the healthcare system, known as Holomedicine. Using MR devices like Microsoft’s HoloLens 2, the technology uses high-speed networks to transmit large amounts of data in real time. Within the operating theatre, the technology is able to render high-resolution three-dimensional images, holographic projections and scan reconstructions. Outside the operating theatres, there can be a clearer visualisation of a patient’s veins during blood taking procedures, advanced ultrasound imaging capabilities, and patient education and counselling. This technology has been deployed in ten operating theatres since August 2023, and three inpatient wards in November 2023.
5G Talent Development - TechSkills Accelerator
In the implementation of 5G, skills like network engineering, network integration and network security are important for workers. IMDA provides training in 5G skills through the TechSkills Accelerator Initiative. This initiative is in partnership with SkillsFuture Singapore and Workforce Singapore.
A new 5G & Telecoms Academy was launched in November 2020. It is led by Singapore Polytechnic and National University of Singapore, and works with Institutes of Higher Learning, mobile network operators and industry partners to consolidate hiring and training needs across the 5G ecosystem. By November 2021, it has equipped over 3,000 Singaporeans with 5G skills.
Also in November 2021, the 5G Academy’s training portal was launched, including more than 500 courses from various Institutes of Higher Learning. More courses with other industry partners were continuously added to the portal. By October 2022, the Academy had trained over 7,000 professionals with 5G skills, exceeding the initial target of training 5,000 professionals within three years.
Pros and Cons of 5G
Benefits
A nationwide 5G network brings three major benefits to both businesses and individuals: improved speed, latency and capacity.
Faster download and upload speeds
With ultra-fast download and upload speeds, users can take advantage of data-heavy applications like 8K video streaming, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR). These technologies require large amounts of data to be transferred in real time, and faster internet speeds make that possible without buffering. Furthermore, for each person, 5G networks can provide up to a 10Gbps peak throughput (amount of data transmitted per second), representing an increase of up to 1000 times in bandwidth per unit area compared to what is capable with the previous 4G LTE network. Using the movie analogy from before, this means that one can download a Netflix 4K movie in about 6 seconds!
Reduced Latency
Latency refers to how long it takes for data from locations to travel to each other, commonly referred to as lag. A lower latency will lead to much faster response times, beneficial in applications such as online gaming, live video chats and also enabling practical online use of technologies such as AR and VR. In fact, in 2019, Huawei managed to do the world’s first remote surgery on an animal through the use of a 5G network.
Improved Capacity
5G networks have an improved capacity compared to the 4G LTE network. In Dec 2023, the total transfer capacity available was 57 million Mbps, compared to the 14 million Mbps present in 2018. This increased capacity also enables widespread concurrent usage of high bandwidth applications, such as streaming live video, VR and AR.
Concerns
There are three concerns over the use of 5G technology in Singapore: cybersecurity risks, urban constraints and potential health impacts.
Cybersecurity Risks
A major concern of 5G technology is its vulnerability to cybersecurity flaws. Researchers at the Singapore University of Technology and Design discovered 14 cybersecurity flaws that affect routers, modems and over 700 different 5G smartphones. They affect 5G modems from Qualcomm and MediaTek, which encompasses almost all 5G Apple and Android smartphones. These vulnerabilities cause issues such as forcing the 5G modem to hang, crash or reboot, and downgrading the connection to 4G instead.
Such a flaw does not just affect individual users of smartphones, but also poses a risk to critical services that rely on 5G networks for connections. This discovery shows that rigorous security testing is important before 5G technologies are deployed.
Urban Constraints
Singapore has always prioritised building vertically due to its small land area. The main materials of buildings are glass, concrete and steel, which absorb or reflect 5G signals. High-frequency 5G bands cannot penetrate these materials, which leads to certain areas in the building having limited 5G coverage. These factors make it difficult to achieve consistent coverage throughout Singapore.
One way to mitigate this problem is to deploy small cells and Distributed Antenna Systems to improve indoor network coverage. However, high-rise buildings often have limited space, which makes it difficult to install these technologies.
Outside buildings, Singapore also faces a similar problem. Due to the high urban density in Singapore, many buildings are closely packed together. This creates “urban canyons”, which are narrow corridors flanked by skyscrapers. This disrupts the natural propagation of radio waves and leads to uneven signal distribution.
Singapore also incorporates trees into its urban environment, which have negative effects on 5G signal strength. Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have concluded that trees can cause 5G signals to become less powerful. This is because the high-frequency signals of 5G cannot pass through wood, and the water stored in the trees’ trunk and leaves impact radio frequencies too. Hence, telecommunications engineers need to consider such impacts on 5G performance.
Potential Health Impacts
Some members of the public have expressed concerns about the health impact of 5G mobile networks. In a public consultation exercise conducted by IMDA, 24 out of 62 responses were from those worried about the health risks of 5G networks. This is because 5G signals use radio waves, and there are concerns that being exposed to electromagnetic radiation could damage human DNA and tissues. Some have urged IMDA to scrap the implementation of 5G, or pause it until more extensive tests are done, to prove that 5G is safe for widespread use. Others have also suggested that network cells be located away from schools to minimise radiation exposure to children.
In response, IMDA has said that the ambient level of radiofrequency radiation in Singapore is very low and typically below international guidelines of 0.7 per cent. Furthermore, the World Health Organisation did not find any scientific evidence of adverse health effects from very low radiofrequency exposures to people. Nevertheless, IMDA and the National Environment Agency (NEA) have affirmed their commitment to ensuring that 5G services are safe by monitoring developments and consulting health experts.
Conclusion
The benefits of 5G are already appreciated by both the everyday Singaporean and those at the cutting edge of technology. Faster speeds enable 8K streaming, smooth VR, and even real time AR, opening up new experiences to the average citizen. Lower latency supports innovations like remote surgery and autonomous vehicles, which are bound to save many lives in the years to come.
On the other hand, Singapore has had to take steps to address risks around the implementation of this new technology at such a large scale. These concerns mainly revolve around digital security, signal penetration and health impacts. However, Singapore has minimised these risks through rigorous testing, careful urban planning and public education.
Singapore’s 5G rollout has been enabled by a mix of a tech forward demographic, strong vision and careful yet decisive policy implementation. The implementation of a nationwide 5G network is the next step for Singapore’s long term goals of becoming a Smart Nation.
This Policy Explainer was written by members of MAJU. MAJU is a ground-up, fully youth-led organisation dedicated to empowering Singaporean youths in policy discourse and co-creation.
By promoting constructive dialogue and serving as a bridge between youths and the Government, we hope to drive the keMAJUan (progress!) of Singapore.
The citations to our Policy Explainers can be found in the PDF appended to this webpage.
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