Research carried out by Cradlepoint, a division of Ericsson, has determined that despite 62% of Singaporean organisations using cellular connectivity, the failure of fixed line/fibre networks has led to 57% experiencing an hour or two of weekly downtime. More startlingly, a quarter of firms face downtime of three to four hours a week because of fixed line/fibre network disruption over the past year, underscoring the fact that cellular connectivity is not being used universally within organisations.
The 2024 State of Connectivity survey by Cradlepoint has also found that half of the organisations are already exploiting network edge solutions for in-vehicle connectivity. Looking ahead, 47% are planning to expand their network edge solution to involve in-vehicle connectivity within the next one to two years.
Furthermore, over two-thirds of Singapore's organisations have been the target of a network security assault in the preceding 12 months. Significantly too, nearly a quarter of these attacks culminated in a major security breach resulting in data loss and for more than 14%, it resulted in substantial corporate penalties. As a consequence, 82% of the organisations surveyed in Singapore have deemed it necessary to eliminate or block applications like Zoom, WhatsApp, and others that are viewed as vulnerability risks on business devices.
Cradlepoint's survey also uncovered a considerable emphasis on sustainability in Singapore's commercial and government sectors. Sixty percent of organisations agree that sustainability plays a pivotal role in both their short-term and long-term objectives. The same proportion believe that escalating sustainability initiatives could augment business revenue. Fifty-nine percent feel the need for smarter facilities that incorporate IoT and connected devices to operate in a more efficient and sustainable way.
On this front, nearly a quarter of the surveyed organisations are planning to invest in cellular networks, more than 36% are considering Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, and over a quarter are considering equipment sensors to curb waste and make their facilities more efficient in the coming year.
Despite this positive inclusion of new technologies and more than 94% of the survey participants seeing 5G wireless connectivity as a catalyst for innovation and digital transformation, a modest number still have reservations about investing in 5G. For instance, over 35% perceive a scarcity of skills needed to deploy and maintain a fixed and wireless network as a deterrent to 5G investment, while a third express concerns about securing connectivity across the enterprise, the idea of costs, and lack of clear ROI.