6G Lab Launched by MediaTek and Singapore University of Technology and Design

On March 2, 2026, MediaTek and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) held a signing ceremony to mark the launch of a joint 6G research laboratory, with a total committed investment of over S$34 million to accelerate the development of 6G technologies.  

The new MediaTek-SUTD Joint Laboratory will study key technical challenges expected to shape 6G, including satellite-connected (non-terrestrial) networks, artificial intelligence-native radio systems, and ways to maximize the energy efficiency of telecommunications infrastructure.

Wireless networks now support everything from video calls to vehicle communications, but even advanced 5G systems have limits in coverage, efficiency, and computing integration. Researchers expect 6G to expand network coverage, more tightly integrate AI and computing capabilities, and improve overall energy performance.

The lab builds on an existing partnership between SUTD and MediaTek that began in 2024. It also represents the next phase of Singapore’s Future Communications Research and Development Programme, a national initiative launched in 2021 by the Infocomm Media Development Authority and the National Research Foundation Singapore to strengthen the country’s communications infrastructure. The program is hosted and led by SUTD.

With commercial 6G deployment expected around 2030, the joint laboratory aims to bridge academic research and industrial application by supporting both foundational research and early-stage prototypes. SUTD already hosts laboratories aligned with global industry efforts such as the O-RAN Alliance and the AI-RAN Alliance, and the new collaboration brings MediaTek’s modem and AI chipset expertise into earlier phases of system design and testing.

As one of the world’s largest fabless semiconductor companies, MediaTek contributes engineering resources, industry data, and experience in chipset development. The partnership is also significant at a national level. Technical standards for 6G will be developed through international bodies such as 3GPP, and countries that contribute credible research can play a role in shaping those standards.

Through this collaboration, Singapore continues positioning itself as an active participant in the global development of 6G technologies.