Asia operator Singtel created a 5G enterprise unit to accelerate customers’ digital transformation using its regional footprint and changed the line of reporting for its ICT arm NCS to give it greater autonomy, as part of a major corporate restructuring.

In a statement, new group CEO Yuen Kuan Moon argued 5G is going to be more than just a connectivity play, and “this refocus of the business will allow us to go after the digital growth that 5G will fuel as a plethora of use cases and business models emerge”.

The ICT unit will report directly to the group CEO to speed up the operator’s expansion into Asia Pacific, with a focus on Australia and China, the company said.

Meanwhile the company’s Group Strategy and Business Development unit was combined with the Digital Life division to form the Strategic Portfolio unit, headed by Samba Natarajan (previously Digital Life CEO).

Its International Group, which currently manages Singtel’s portfolio of strategic telecom investments, will be brought under the group CFO office on 1 April, with Arthur Lang, currently head of the International Group, taking the helm.

The operator’s board also appointed former Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri as an independent director.

Anna Yip, deputy CEO of the Consumer Singapore division, and NCS CEO Ng Kuo Pin joined the company’s management committee. Allen Lew, CEO of Group Strategy and Business Development, and Jeann Low, group chief corporate officer, will retire from the committee at end-April.

“Our renewed management structure will help shape and support our business agenda as we strive to prioritise businesses where we can be relevant in the longer term and grow sustainably,” Yuen said.