The Infocomm Media Development Authority announced today (29 September) that 1,000 professionals will be hired or reskilled to support Singapore’s 5G rollout.
Out of this figure, 300 will be new roles while the remaining jobs will be filled by telecom professionals who have up-skilled in 5G network, cybersecurity and solution engineering.
Under the Techskills Accelerator initiative, IMDA has set up 5G Workforce Transformation Committees with mobile network operators to identify the talent requirements of the mobile network operators.
IMDA has also appointed a consortium comprising the National University of Singapore and Singapore Polytechnic as the 5G and Telecoms Programme Manager.
The consortium has launched a program that develops skills across the 5G ecosystem.
These initiatives are part of IMDA’s plan to equip 5,000 professionals with the training to develop a 5G skilled workforce over the next three years.
“Talent development is the next critical phase of our investment in 5G,” said IMDA chief executive Lew Chuen Hong.
Echoing this statement, Communications and Information Minister S Iswaran agreed that a strong and skilled workforce coupled with 5G infrastructure are “essential to expand Singapore’s capacity for innovation.”
S’pore’s Push For 5G Network
Singapore is one of the frontrunners in the adoption of 5G after 4G LTE, with the goal of offering nationwide 5G coverage by 2025. The government has announced a S$40 million investment towards 5G innovation.
5G networks are expected to offer speeds up to 20 times faster than current 4G technologies.
Earlier this year, Singtel and a joint venture under StarHub and M1 became the first mobile network operators to offer 5G in Singapore.
“Its higher bandwidth, lower latency and dynamic network capabilities will unlock novel applications that were not previously possible,” says Iswaran.
“New products and services in areas like autonomous vehicles and robotics, the Internet of Things and augmented reality will create new revenue streams that are expected to add US$2.2 trillion to the global economy by 2034.”
Featured Image Credit: Computerworld
