Singapore’s telecommunications firm Singtel announced Monday the launch of its 50Gbps XGS-PON fiber broadband technical trial, the first in Singapore.

Designed to support ultra-immersive augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality experiences, cloud gaming, and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled smart homes and businesses, the 50Gbps XGS-PON broadband ensures customers are ready to adopt these emerging technologies, new devices and applications, that are expected to be widely available over the next three to five years, the firm said in a statement.

According to the statement, global bandwidth demand continues to accelerate, driven by the rapid adoption of ultra-high-definition streaming, immersive media, cloud-based applications and AI-driven home systems and use cases.

Deloitte’s 2025 Connected Consumer Survey highlights a global shift towards integrating remote work, virtual services and immersive media into daily life.

As households run multiple data-intensive AI-driven applications simultaneously, expectations for faster, more reliable, low latency broadband connectivity, will rise.

Through the trial, Singtel will evaluate the performance and network capabilities needed to support increasingly data-intensive, multi-devices environments enabled by AI.

The trial marks an important step towards future mass deployment for residential and commercial users as digital lifestyles continue to evolve.

“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,” said Ng Tian Chong, Chief Executive Officer, Singtel Singapore.

It is noted that Singtel’s early adoption positions Singapore at the forefront of next-generation fiber broadband innovation in line with the nation’s Digital Connectivity Blueprint, which aims to build a robust, future-ready digital infrastructure.

Singtel said the firm has always invested ahead in new technologies to offer the best connectivity to its customers.

This includes democratizing network slicing for everyday users, a world’s first, to support evolving digital needs and enhance user experiences.

In 2022, Singtel was the first in the world to deploy nationwide standalone 5G, followed by the addition of 700MHz spectrum – enhancing coverage and performance with up to 40 percent stronger signal strength in indoor, underground and high-density environments.

With its advanced 5G network, Singtel said it has been consistently delivering high-speed, reliable and secure connectivity even in crowded environments events.

More recently, Singtel achieved another global first with the launch of network slicing for Honor of Kings · Cloud.

This enables ultra-low-latency cloud gaming, playable on any device without the need for downloads or high-end hardware.

These innovations pave the way for next-generation use cases such as real-time IoT processing, smart glasses, augmented-reality assistants and new AI-generated entertainment formats.

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