Credit: Dreamstime
Singtel has entered into an agreement with automotive cyber security firm Argus Cyber Security in a move designed to boost Singapore’s transportation sector.
The agreement will see both firms collaborate on several initiatives to facilitate the introduction of connected cars and new technologies such as autonomous vehicles.
“This partnership is part of our broader vision to create an ecosystem to support the development of new technologies and solutions focusing on the transportation sector, both in Singapore and globally,” said Bill Chang, CEO of Group Enterprise at Singtel.
“With a secure ecosystem, automobile manufacturers and automotive equipment providers can safely collaborate and develop advanced solutions for commercial and industrial autonomous vehicles.
“By partnering with a global leader like Argus, we are committed to positioning Singapore at the forefront of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies for the next generation of smart and cyber secure vehicles."
The agreement will also see both parties launch a suite of solutions, which includes Argus’ in-vehicle solutions and technologies, and its stand-alone cyber security backend platform.
Furthermore, Argus will also integrate data with the managed security services portfolio of Singtel’s cyber security arm, Trustwave, to enhance the protection of on-the-road vehicles.
This platform aims to benefit both automakers and fleet managers to protect their vehicles and will be delivered through Trustwave’s global network of 10 advanced security operations centres.
“We are delighted to partner with Singtel, a global technology leader and a trusted cyber security partner of the world's leading business organisations,” said Ofer Ben-Noon, co-founder and CEO of Argus Cyber Security.
“This partnership is another important leap forward towards delivering multi-layered, security solutions and services that make mobility intelligent and secure – in Singapore and around the world.
“We look forward to broadening our scope of partnership with Singtel to include co-creating next generation of cyber security solutions and services for the autonomous vehicle industry."
Threat increase
As the introduction of autonomous vehicles aligns with Singapore’s ambition as a smart nation, this announcement is timely.
Furthermore, joint research will also be carried out by Singtel and Argus at the Singtel Cyber Security Institute (CSI) in an effort to help defend autonomous vehicles against sophisticated, evolving cyber threats.
The partners could also use CSI’s advanced cyber range platform to subject solutions to "rigorous testing and prototyping", according to the announcement.
This would augment Singtel’s ongoing collaboration with the National University of Singapore to develop advanced cyber security solutions for next generation cyber threats.
The announcement of this collaborations comes a week after Singtel revealed its 5G Garage facility, in partnership with Ericsson and Singapore Polytechnic, which is Singapore’s first such live 5G facility.
Specifically, this new facility aims to serve as a training centre, test bed and ideation lab in an effort to develop the city-states 5G ecosystem and further drive adoption of this technology.
Furthermore, among the projects being trialed at the new facility is that of an autonomous vehicle, which will benefit greatly from the advanced attributes 5G affords such projects, particularly its low-latency aspects.
