On 6 March 2026 the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) formally released Issue 1 Revision 4 of the Cellular Mobile Terminal Technical Specification (IMDA TS CMT Issue 1 Rev 4), introducing two new mandatory technical requirements for mobile terminal equipment used in Singapore.

Requirements and background

Under the new specification, from 31 December 2026 all cellular mobile terminals placed on the Singapore market must have 2G connectivity disabled in the factory default configuration. Users who need 2G must enable it through a deliberate action, such as entering the settings menu or confirming a prompt.

At the same time, from 1 April 2026 all cellular mobile terminals must support emergency cell broadcast. The function ensures the public can receive alerts issued by the relevant Singapore authorities in good time and improves emergency response.

IMDA also clarifies that devices that had already reached end of life (EOL) before those effective dates are exempt from the new requirements.

The update follows the global migration of telecom networks to 4G and 5G, accelerates the retirement of legacy technology and further strengthens public safety communications. Manufacturers and suppliers should ensure their products complete the technical adjustments and compliance verification within the deadlines.