On 19 February 2026 the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) announced the formal update of the draft Cellular Mobile Terminal Technical Specification (IMDA TS CMT Issue 1 Revision 4). The draft was released in early February 2026 and completed public consultation and review between 2 and 8 February. It sets out the minimum technical requirements for smartphones, vehicle-mounted terminals, RF modules and other mobile devices on the Singapore market, covering 4G LTE-Advanced, 5G NR, security, VoLTE and emergency cell broadcast.

Core changes

1. 2G connectivity disabled by default. Devices ship with 2G networking switched off, and users must act deliberately to enable it, further driving the 2G sunset and spectrum optimisation.

2. Mandatory VoLTE and emergency calling. All applicable terminals must support VoLTE high-definition voice and basic emergency calling, safeguarding call continuity and the reliability of public emergency communications.

3. Full compliance with emergency cell broadcast (CBS). The requirements for emergency cell broadcast are followed strictly, with alert parameters and delivery rules clarified to improve the reach of information during disasters and public safety incidents.

4. Upgraded device and lithium battery safety standards. Safety requirements are updated and aligned with international standards including IEC 62368-1, UL 1642, IEC 62133 and IEC 60086-4, strengthening electrical safety and the thermal and mechanical safety of lithium batteries.

Basis and background

The revision is a significant compliance upgrade for next-generation mobile terminals in Singapore, intended to unify the network experience, strengthen device security and emergency communications, and move local mobile networks towards greater efficiency and safety.

The adjustment to 6 GHz power limits follows the global wave of Wi-Fi 7 adoption. With the introduction of 320 MHz channels and 4K QAM modulation, higher transmit power is key to realising performance and extending coverage.

Notably, the regulatory update keeps pace with global trends and marks a substantive step forward for Singapore in cellular mobile technology requirements.