Our milestones

Trace the key milestones of Singapore’s Smart Nation journey.

Last updated 10 September 2026

A digital illustration depicting the evolution of technology in Singapore.

Smart technology has made a difference to the way we live, work and play. But the changes didn’t happen overnight. Here, we trace the milestones of Singapore’s Smart Nation journey.

1963

The first mainframe computer was installed in the Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB) to automate the manual ledger accounting system that kept track of 1.6 million CPF members’ accounts.

1981

The National Computer Board (NCB) was established to implement the computerisation of the Civil Service, coordinate computer education and training, and develop and promote the computer services industry.

Illustration of an early desktop computer.

1997

Launch of the Singapore ONE (Online Network Exchange) network. This pioneering initiative made Singapore among the first countries in the world to implement a nationwide broadband network.

Illustration of a map of Singapore with a WiFi symbol.

2000

The Infocomm 21 Master Plan was launched by the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) to establish Singapore as a leading global infocomm hub and boost its position in the digital economy. The plan aimed to enhance infocomm infrastructure, drive innovation, and promote ICT adoption across various sectors.

2003

Introduction of Singpass (opens in new tab), a digital identity system that allows Singapore residents to securely access a wide range of government e-services using a single login.

Illustration of the Singpass app on a smartphone screen.

2014

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong outlined plans to turn Singapore into the world’s first Smart Nation, and launched the Smart Nation Programme Office to drive the national effort to transform Singapore into a Smart Nation.

2016

Formation of the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) (opens in new tab), the statutory board responsible for delivering government digital services and developing infrastructure to support the Smart Nation initiative.

2017

Establishment of the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) to oversee and implement strategies for Singapore’s digital transformation and Smart Nation initiatives.

2018

Introduction of PayNow (opens in new tab), a nationwide digital payment service that allows instant fund transfers using mobile numbers or NRIC/FIN numbers.

Launch of the National AI Strategy 1.0 (opens in new tab) to drive the adoption of artificial intelligence and position Singapore as a leader in AI innovation.

2022

Launch of the National AI Strategy 2.0 (opens in new tab), which builds on the previous strategy to further advance Singapore’s AI capabilities and applications.

2023

Formation of the Ministry of Digital and Information (MDDI) (opens in new tab) through the merger of the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) and the Smart Nation and Digital Government Group (SNDGG), to streamline and enhance governance of Singapore’s digital and information technology landscape.

2024

Launch of Smart Nation 2.0 (opens in new tab).