Singtel has opened Singapore's first live 5G facility in conjunction with Ericsson and Singapore Polytechnic.
The facility at Singapore Polytechnic's Dover Road campus, named 5G Garage, is connected to Singapore's pilot 5G network using the 3.5-GHz spectrum allocated by regulator IMDA for 5G trials.
The 5G Garage will serve as a training center, test bed and ideation lab to develop Singapore’s 5G ecosystem.
“As Singapore advances its digital economy and becomes a Smart Nation, the benefits of 5G will first be seen in enterprises, especially in their digital transformation when they integrate technology into their processes, services and products,” Singtel group CTO Mark Chong said.
“With 5G standards largely established, now is an opportune time for SMEs and enterprises to join us in shaping our 5G future.”
Enterprises will be able to use the facility to develop and test 5G solutions, and the three parties plan to co-develop 5G solutions for industries ranging from transport and logistics to healthcare to manufacturing.
As part of the collaboration, around 250 final year students from the polytechnic's Diploma in Electrical & Electronic Engineering and Diploma in Computer Engineering will integrate 5G education and training into their coursework.
Students in Singtel's Engineering Cadet Scholarship Program will be given the opportunity to take up internships in the garage.