Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) and Ericsson have formed a five-year alliance to broaden advanced 5G offerings and bring more artificial intelligence (AI) into the way the mobile network is run.

The two companies will concentrate on sectors where delays or outages can hurt productivity and safety. Singtel intends to widen the use of network slicing and programmable connectivity for autonomous vehicles, industrial robots, smart factories and logistics systems.

Network slicing lets an operator set aside part of its network for a specific customer or application. That can deliver the capacity and steady performance machines, sensors and AI systems need to swap information in real time, even when the broader network is congested. PSA Singapore is already using the technology to support communications among automated guided vehicles, cranes and other port systems at its Tuas Port.

Singtel and Ericsson will also study possible applications at Changi Airport Terminal 5, Bulim Square and upcoming projects by industrial landlord JTC Corp. These could cover autonomous transport, automated inspections, video analysis and remote monitoring, the companies said.

“We’ve built a strong 5G foundation for Singapore and turned advanced network capabilities into services that benefit our customers. As AI becomes more embedded in how we live and work, networks will need to support far more complex applications, from autonomous machines and real-time analytics to the AI tools people use every day,” said Singtel Singapore chief executive officer Ng Tian Chong.

Singtel started running its standalone 5G network in 2021 and said it reached coverage of more than 95% in 2022. Its later rollout of the 700-megahertz spectrum lifted coverage by as much as 40%, especially indoors, according to the company.

The operator launched 5G+ consumer service tiers in 2025, using network slicing to give customers faster and more consistent connections in crowded places. Singtel and Ericsson will now look at on-demand options that would allow users to obtain higher network performance when required.

The partnership also includes work to use AI in managing the network itself. Singtel and Ericsson plan to apply the technology to forecast traffic, allocate capacity and spot possible performance problems earlier. Singtel says greater automation could also help it cut energy use and improve service reliability.

In a trial run on Singtel’s live network, AI-powered radio access capabilities raised data throughput by 19%.

The companies will also keep pushing upload speeds higher, which matters as customers send more high-definition video and data to the network. Recent upgrades support peak upload speeds of up to 250 megabits per second on compatible devices, according to Singtel.

“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,” Ng said.

Daniel Ode, head of Ericsson Singapore, Brunei and Philippines and Global Customer Unit Singtel, added: “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.”