This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
Singapore has chosen Nokia and Ericsson as its main 5G network providers, leaving Huawei with a minor role in the country's next-generation network.
The decision comes as the US government continues to pressure countries to exclude Huawei from involvement in their 5G networks, citing allegations of stealing American trade secrets and aiding China's espionage efforts.
However, Huawei has denied any ties with the Chinese government.
According to Information Minister S. Iswaran, Singapore's selection process was robust and based on performance, security, and resilience requirements.
"We have run a robust process spelling out our requirements in terms of performance, security and resilience," he said.
"There is a diversity of vendors participating in different parts of the 5G ecosystem, and… there remain prospects for greater involvement in our 5G system going forward," Iswaran added.
The 5G investments in Singapore are expected to run into "billions of dollars," with the country aiming to have ultra-high-speed internet coverage for half of the country by the end of 2022 and expand it to cover the entire island by the end of 2025.
On June 25, 2020, Singtel announced that it had chosen Ericsson to build its 5G network, while a joint venture between M1 and StarHub opted for Nokia to build its main 5G infrastructure.
However, both M1 and StarHub said that other firms, including Huawei, could have some involvement in the project.
As the US government continues to scrutinize Huawei's involvement in 5G networks, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman emphasized the importance of "knowing your supplier" in a statement.
"As the People's Republic of China attempts to blur the lines between civil and military sectors, 'knowing your supplier' is critical," Hoffman said.
