Singtel has launched a technical trial of 50Gbps XGS-PON fibre broadband, becoming the first operator in Singapore to test the technology. The trial targets residential and business connectivity as bandwidth demand increases from AI-driven applications, immersive media, and cloud-based services.
The 50Gbps XGS-PON trial evaluates network performance in multi-device, data-intensive environments where households and small businesses run simultaneous AI-enabled workloads. Singtel is assessing throughput, latency, and reliability ahead of potential wider deployment, as advanced AR, VR, mixed reality, and AI-powered services are expected to reach broader adoption over the next three to five years.
Singtel positions the pilot within Singapore’s longer-term digital infrastructure plans, building on earlier investments such as nationwide standalone 5G and consumer-facing network slicing. The company aims to prepare fixed and mobile networks for higher-capacity, lower-latency applications as digital lifestyles and enterprise connectivity requirements evolve.
• Ultra-high-definition and immersive media, including 8K and future 12K video, plus AR/VR/XR experiences
• Cloud gaming and cloud PCs requiring low latency and high sustained throughput
• Home offices and small businesses running data-intensive workflows and secure enterprise connectivity
• Telemedicine and remote diagnostics, including real-time imaging and VR-based rehabilitation
• AI-driven smart homes using real-time analytics across cameras, IoT devices, and autonomous systems
• Future-ready home networks supporting next-generation Wi-Fi and dense IoT environments
Ng Tian Chong said: “Digital technologies are deeply embedded in everyday life in Singapore, supported by near-universal internet access, high device ownership, and widespread use of online communication and digital services across work, learning and entertainment. This next evolution in fibre broadband connectivity helps ensure that homes and businesses can continue to support increasingly immersive and AI-enabled digital experiences.”
