Singtel monetizes 5G Standalone network with UHD and cloud gaming focus
Singtel is utilizing its 5G standalone (5G SA) network in Singapore to provide high-speed data for consumer plans and enterprise solutions, emphasizing its role as a backbone for advanced applications like UHD streaming and cloud gaming. This initiative showcases how a leading operator can monetize next-generation network capabilities for both mass-market and specialized offerings. The 5G SA architecture supports ultra-low latency and higher network efficiency for improved streaming and interactive experiences.
Key Takeaways
- Singtel's 5G SA network now covers the majority of Singapore, including residential, business, and transport hubs.
- Integrated 5G architecture supports direct device connection for both data and signaling, eliminating reliance on legacy 4G cores.
- Network performance targets include support for 4K/HDR streaming, AR overlays, and responsive cloud-rendered graphics.
- Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is being positioned as a direct competitor to fiber for home broadband users seeking flexibility.
Why It Matters
Singtel’s 5G SA rollout serves as a blueprint for telcos seeking to move beyond simple connectivity toward high-margin service tiers. By isolating high-demand traffic like UHD video and cloud gaming on a standalone core, Singtel can offer guaranteed performance levels that 4G-dependent networks cannot match. This shift is critical for the streaming ecosystem as it enables consistent 4K mobile delivery and reduces the technical barriers for complex AR and gaming applications. Watch for how Singtel’s move to bundle 5G into premium postpaid plans impacts mobile ARPU compared to regional peers still operating on non-standalone (NSA) infrastructure.
Additional Context
The commercial scaling of 5G SA comes as Singtel reports resilient financials amid heightening competition. Per Singtel’s FY2026 earnings released in May 2026, the group saw a 12% rise in underlying net profit to S$2.77 billion, driven by its digital infrastructure and regional associate growth. Despite intense pricing pressure in Singapore—where revenue fell 3% due to competitive roaming and mobile plans—management is pivoting toward '5G+' monetization. This includes a world-first nationwide deployment of network slicing for mass-market cloud gaming, specifically via a partnership with Tencent Games to host 'Honor of Kings Cloud' on Singtel’s TxStore platform, per reports from Light Reading and The Fast Mode in late 2025.
Technological maturity and integration complexity remain the primary hurdles for global 5G SA adoption. According to a June 2026 GSMA Intelligence report, while 5G coverage is widespread, only about 20% of global operators have launched live standalone networks. Singtel is an outlier in this regard, having achieved 95% nationwide 5G SA coverage years ahead of regulatory targets. The GSMA notes that operators utilizing SA architecture, particularly via User Equipment Route Selection Policy (URSP), can see ARPU uplifts of 5% to 15% by offering 'VIP' connectivity slices for gamers and heavy streamers.
Regionally, the Singaporean market is bracing for further consolidation with the pending merger of Simba and M1, expected to be finalized in mid-2026. Per RHB and SBR reports from January 2026, the combined entity could control 77% of the wholesale market, forcing Singtel to rely more heavily on its technology lead. Singtel has currently maintained a lead in 'Reliability Experience' and 'Games Experience' according to Opensignal data from 2025, which underscores the functional advantage of its 5G SA backbone over competitors' non-standalone or mixed-architecture deployments.
Read full article at ad-hoc-news.de
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