Singtel’s project named as one of the top 50 engineering feats at The IES

Singapore-based Singtel’s project “Conversion of Overhead Poles to Underground Plants for Telecommunication Cables” has been named as one of the top 50 engineering feats at The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) – SG50 Award.

Started in 1980, the Singtel project converted Singapore’s overhead telecommunication cable poles into underground plants. Despite the higher costs of constructing and operating the underground telecommunication plants, SingTel proceeded with the enormous undertaking to convert the overhead poles, as it foresaw that the longer-term benefits would outweigh short-term costs.

The conversion was necessary to alleviate the problems of overhead poles, unsightly hanging cables and the risk of exposing cables to weather damage.

Singtel is also contributing $50,000 to the IES-SG50 Golden Jubilee Scholarship Fund in support of the next generation of engineers. The IES intends to raise a total of $500,000 to help 50 engineering students from local universities and polytechnics, with priority given to students from needy families.