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Singtel, Asia’s leading communications technology group, unveiled a short film titled “From Mudflats to Smart Nation” yesterday, in honour of Singapore’s 58th National Day and to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of the nation’s founding prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The documentary delves into the visionary journey of Singapore’s growth, charting its rise from a fledgling nation to a global economic powerhouse, with a strong focus on the transformative role of telecoms and technology in this journey.
Mr Lee would be 100 years old this coming 16 September, if he is still alive.
The title of the 23-minute documentary alludes to Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s famous quote from 1965, when he envisioned turning Singapore from mudflats into a metropolis during its first year of independence. The film showcases the nation’s progress through a telecoms and technology lens, exploring how Singapore leveraged connectivity, communication, and digital content to become the Smart Nation it is today.
“This was a mudflat, swamp! Today, this is a modern city. Ten years from now, this will be a metropolis. Never fear.” Boomed Mr. Lee at the start of the video.
This was taken from the iconic speech he made at a scholarship presentation at Sree Narayana Mission on 12 September 1965, where he laid out his vision of a just and multicultural Singapore, bringing calm to Singaporeans who just a month earlier, witnessed a painful separation from Malaysia. He predicted that Singapore will become a metropolis; he was right. You can read the full speech here.
The documentary features exclusive interviews with Singtel’s top executives, including Mr Yuen Kuan Moon and Mr Arthur Lang, as well as notable figures such as Mr Lim Swee Say, former Chairman and General Manager of the National Computer Board, and Mr Mark Chong, former Singtel Group CTO. Together, they reveal the strategies that propelled Singapore from its humble beginnings to an intelligent nation:
Structured in three acts, the film starts with the foundation-laying phase in the 1960s and 1970s, when Singapore rapidly urbanised, connecting homes and businesses to the world through vital infrastructure laid by the Singapore Telephone Board. The country’s international growth phase, marked by technology adoption and overseas expansion, takes center stage in the second act, showcasing Singapore’s commitment to upskilling its workforce and supporting its economy.
With the advent of 5G technology, Singapore is embracing the digital age with fervor, and the documentary’s third act focuses on staying competitive by fostering innovation.
To connect all households and businesses across the island, Singtel then known as Telecommunication Authority of Singapore, embarked on a massive exercise to lay telephone lines nationwide. Picture credit: Singtel
The film, treated with Parallax visual effects, brings rarely seen footage and photos of Mr Lee and Singapore to life, creating an immersive experience for viewers of all generations. “From Mudflats to Smart Nation” offers older Singaporeans a nostalgic walk down memory lane, while the younger generation gains insights into the nation’s humble beginnings and its journey towards success.
The government began computerising all its services in a bid to harness technology to upskill workers and support the nation’s internationalisation. Picture credit: Singtel
“For the first time, the Singtel Group’s leaders share their unique perspectives on Singapore’s growth story, having themselves been part of this remarkable journey of survival and reinvention,” said Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, Singtel Group CEO.
“As we celebrate Singapore’s 58th birthday, it is timely to examine how Singapore innovated its way to the present, where we stand on the cusp of mainstream 5G adoption, another critical technology milestone that’s paving the way forward for our Smart Nation.”
The 3-minute trailer for the documentary will be showcased during the National Day Parade Preview on July 29, and the full film is now available for streaming on Singtel’s YouTube channel. Additionally, it will air on Singtel TV (eLe Channel) on August 9.
