Extension of Retirement Date of 3G Network Pending Upgrading of Town Infrastructure to 4G- or 5G-Compatible Devices
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim’s inquiry regarding the impact of 3G network retirement on town infrastructure like lift monitoring devices and the potential for extending the retirement deadline. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee stated that the Housing and Development Board is replacing 3G Lift Monitoring Devices with 4G-compatible ones under an enhancement programme targeted for completion by end-2025. He highlighted that 3G support will continue until migration is finished, as the Infocomm Media Development Authority requires operators to ensure successful subscriber migration before retirement. HDB is collaborating with relevant ministries and mobile operators to manage this transition while ensuring town infrastructure maintains high connectivity and cybersecurity standards. Town Councils will be engaged on the scheduling of replacement works to ensure all remaining lifts are upgraded before the 3G network is retired.
Transcript
42 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for National Development in light of the announced retirement of the 3G network (a) whether the Government has considered the implications on existing town infrastructure, such as lift management devices in elevators, that are using the 3G network; and (b) whether the Government will consider an extension of the retirement date if Town Councils are found to be behind in the upgrading of said infrastructure to 4G- or 5G-compatible devices.
Mr Desmond Lee: All lifts in the Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks are installed with Lift Monitoring Devices (LMDs) to monitor the lifts' performance and operating status.
In 2021, HDB launched the LMD Enhancement Programme as part of efforts to enhance the reliability of lifts in HDB estates. Under this programme, HDB will replace all LMDs that are still operating on the 3G network with LMDs that operate on the 4G network to enhance connectivity, data processing capability and cybersecurity. HDB is working with the vendors to accelerate the replacement works for the remaining lifts and targets to complete the programme by end-2025.
LMDs on 3G networks will continue to be supported until they are all replaced under the LMD Enhancement Programme. IMDA requires network operators to ensure that the remaining 3G enterprise subscribers successfully migrate to the 4G or 5G networks before the 3G networks are retired.
The Ministry of National Development and HDB are working with the Ministry of Communications and Information, Infocomm Media Development Authority and the mobile network operators to manage the transition to 4G-enabled LMDs alongside the retirement of 3G networks. HDB has been progressively rolling out the LMD replacements and will engage the respective Town Councils on the scheduling of replacement works in their towns in due course.