Damage to Telecommunication Cables

Contravention of Section 33(1), 33(3), 36 and 68(2) of the Telecommunications Act 1999

Composition Sum

Eng Lam Contractors Co (Pte) Ltd (“Eng Lam”) was the main contractor engaged by the Public Utilities Board to carry out improvement works at Sungei Tampines.

The service plans and the cable detection reports provided to Eng Lam indicated the presence of telecommunication cables belonging to Netlink Trust Management Pte Ltd (as Trustee of Netlink Trust) (“NLT”) and Singapore Telecommunications Limited (“Singtel”) in the vicinity of Eng Lam’s earthworks.

On 14 November 2018, Eng Lam performed sheet piling works at the junction of Tampines Avenue 9 and Tampines Avenue 12, without complying with Singtel’s and NLT’s reasonable requirements. Although Eng Lam had dug trial holes before commencing sheet piling works, a mechanical equipment was used in the process and Eng Lam did not ascertain the location of telecommunication cables belonging to Singtel and NLT.

In the course of carrying out the sheet piling works, Eng Lam damaged 15 Singtel’s cables and 18 NLT’s cables, which resulted in the disruption of telecommunication services for more than 19 hours and affected approximately 23,419 end-users.

Eng Lam was prosecuted in Court for contravention of Sections 29(3), 32 and 49(2), of the Telecommunications Act (Cap. 323).

On 21 September 2023, the Court imposed the following fines on Eng Lam:

(a) $25,000 for its contravention of Section 29(3)

(b) $25,000 for its contravention of Section 32; and

(c) $300,000 for its contravention of Section 49(2).

Contravention of sections 29(1), 29(3) and 49(2) of the Telecommunications Act

Composition Sum

Altivo Pte Ltd (“Altivo”), was engaged by China Construction (South Pacific) Development Co Pte Ltd as its sub-contractor to carry out external works, including road works and drainage works, for a Housing and Development Board project.

Altivo engaged Jian Man Construction Pte Ltd (“Jian Man”) for the supply and installation of sheet piling, soldier piling, timber lagging and strutting works.

The service plans and the cable detection reports provided to Altivo and Jian Man indicated the presence of telecommunication cables belonging to Netlink Trust Management Pte Ltd (as Trustee of Netlink Trust) (“NLT”) and Singapore Telecommunications Limited (“Singtel”) in the vicinity of the earthworks. 

In early April 2017, Jian Man submitted the Notice for Commencement of Earthworks (“NCE”) to NLT and Singtel.

On 11 April 2017, after receiving Altivo’s instruction, Jian Man proceeded with the sheet piling works at the junction of Corporation Road and Jurong West Avenue 2, although it had not received Singtel’s response to its NCE submission. In addition, Jian Man had carried out the sheet piling works without complying with Singtel’s and NLT’s reasonable requirements and without ascertaining the location of telecommunication cables belonging to Singtel and NLT.

In the course of carrying out the sheet piling works, Jian Man damaged 2 Singtel’s and 8 NLT’s telecommunication cables, which resulted in the disruption of telecommunication services for about 29 hours and affected approximately 5,294 end-users in Jurong West, Jurong East, Boon Lay and Bukit Batok.

Jian Man was prosecuted in Court for its contravention of Sections 29(1), 29(3), 32, 49(2) of the Telecommunications Act.

Jian Man was subject to the supervision or instructions of Altivo for the purposes of its employment as Altivo’s subcontractor in the course of which the damage to Singtel’s and NLT’s telecommunication cables were caused by Jian Man.

Altivo was prosecuted for its contravention of Section 49(3) of the Telecommunications Act.

On 17 August 2022, the Court imposed the following fines on Jian Man:

(a) $20,000 for its contravention of Section 32; and

(b) $180,000 for its contravention of Section 49(2).

On 17 August 2022, the Court imposed a fine of $100,000 on Altivo for its contravention of Section 49(3).

Composition Sum

Composition Sum

Breach of sections 29(3), 32 and 49(2) of the Telecommunications Act.

Composition Sum

Breach of sections 29(1), 29(3) and 32 of the Telecommunications Act.

Composition Sum 

Zap Piling Pte Ltd (“Zap Piling”) was engaged by LendLease Singapore Pte Ltd for the “Provision of a Diaphragm Wall, Bored Pile, SBP and Soil Improvement Works” for the “Paya Lebar Quarter Project”.

Zap Piling sub-contracted part of its scope of work, i.e. the soil improvement works using wet speed mixing method, which include grouting piling works (the “Soil Improvement Works”) to Zhao Yang Geo-System Pte Ltd, who then sub-contracted the entire Soil Improvement Works, which include cable detection works and digging of trial pit/holes, to its sister company, Zhao Yang Geotechnic Pte Ltd (“ZYG”). Zap Piling remained responsible for site management and supervising/ instructing ZYG in carrying out the Soil Improvement Works.

The service plans and the cable detection report provided to ZYG indicated the presence of pipelines which contained telecommunication cables belonging to Singapore Telecommunications Limited (“Singtel”) in the vicinity of ZYG’s earthworks.

On 15 December 2015, ZYG proceeded to dig a trial hole at the incident location but did not manage to locate Singtel’s conduit. Hence, Singtel did not approve the intended earthworks and did not issue any approval letter to ZYG.

Despite its awareness of the presence of the 16-way pipe which contains Singtel’s cables at the incident location, ZYG did not dig further trial holes or follow up by seeking assistance from Singtel to establish the actual route of their telecommunication cables.

On 11 October 2016, after receiving Zap Piling’s instruction, ZYG proceeded to conduct jet grout piling works using a “Jet Grouting Machine” at the incident location. In the course of carrying out the piling works, ZYG damaged Singtel’s telecommunication cables in the 16-Way Pipe, at a depth of about 1.7 meters. This incident resulted in the disruption of telecommunication services for about 5 hours and affected 1,892 end-users.

ZYG was prosecuted in Court for its contravention of Sections 29(3), 32 and 49(2) of the Telecommunications Act.

ZYG was subject to the supervision or instructions of Zap Piling for the purposes of its employment as Zap Piling’s subcontractor in the course of which the damage to Singtel’s telecommunication cables were caused by ZYG.

Zap Piling was prosecuted in Court for its contravention of Section 49(3) of the Telecommunications Act.

On 18 February 2020, the Court imposed the following fines on ZYG:

(a) $22,000 for its contravention of Section 29(3);

(b) $22,000 for its contravention of Section 32; and

(c) $150,000 for its contravention of Section 49(2).


On 4 November 2020, the Court imposed a fine of $90,000 on Zap Piling for its contravention of Section 49(3).   

Woh Hup-Obayashi Joint Venture (Project Jewel) (“WHOJV”) was the main contractor engaged by Jewel Changi Airport Trustee Pte Ltd (in the capacity as trustee-manager of Jewel Changi Airport Trust) and Changi Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd for the construction of Changi Jewel.

WHOJV engaged CS Bored Pile System Pte Ltd as a subcontractor for the project, who then subcontracted the foundation works, including tam grout piling work to CS Construction & Geotechnic Pte Ltd (“CSCG”). WHOJV remained responsible for site management and supervising/ instructing CSCG’s piling works.

The service plans and the cable detection report provided to WHOJV indicated the presence of a 2-way pipe, which contained telecommunication cables belonging to Singapore Telecommunications Limited (“Singtel”) and CityNet Infrastructure Management Pte Ltd (“CityNet”) in the vicinity of the earthworks.

Despite its awareness of the presence of the 2-way pipe which contains Singtel’s and CityNet’s cables at the incident location, WHOJV failed to label/ mark the 2-way pipe in the utilities gap grouting plan drawing that it subsequently prepared to highlight that it contained telecommunication system licensees’ cables. The utilities gap grouting plan drawing was thereafter provided to CSCG.

On 17 January 2016, after obtaining the Permit-To-Work from WHOJV, CSCG used a hand auger to dig a trial hole at the incident location before it proceeded with the installation of tam grout piles. CSCG did not find any underground services at a depth of 1.7 meters. Without ascertaining and exposing Singtel’s and CityNet’s cables at the incident location, CSCG proceeded to commence piling works at the incident location.

In the course of carrying out piling work using a micro piling rig at the incident location, CSCG damaged Singtel’s and CityNet’s telecommunication cables in the 2-Way Pipe, at a depth of about 2.5 meters. This incident resulted in the disruption of telecommunication services for about 10 hours and affected 537 end-users (comprised of 526 business end users and 11 public institutions in total).

CSCG was prosecuted in Court for its contravention of Sections 32 and 49(2) of the Telecommunications Act.

CSCG was subject to the supervision or instructions of WHOJV for the purposes of its employment as WHOJV’s subcontractor in the course of which the damage to Singtel’s and CityNet’s telecommunication cables were caused by CSCG.

WHOJV was prosecuted in Court for its contravention of Section 49(3) of the Telecommunications Act.

On 21 February 2020, the Court imposed the following fines on CSCG:

(a) $30,000 for its contravention of Section 32; and
(b) $150,000 for its contravention of Section 49(2).

On 21 October 2020, the Court imposed a fine of $75,000 on WHOJV for its contravention of Section 49(3).  

Breach of sections 29(3), 32 and 49(2) of the Telecommunications Act

Sam Lain Equipment Services (“Sam Lain”) was engaged by PowerGas Ltd for a pipe laying project along Ang Mo Kio Street 13.

The service plans and the cable detection report obtained by Sam Lain indicated the presence of telecommunication cables belonging to NetLink Management Pte Ltd (as Trustee of Netlink Trust) (“NLT”) in the vicinity of the earthworks.

In the course of digging a trial hole with a mini excavator on 26 June 2018, Sam Lain damaged one (1) primary cable belonging to NLT along Ang Mo Kio Street 13. This incident resulted in the disruption of telecommunication services for about 9 hours and affected 870 residential end-users and 10 non-residential / business end-users.

Sam Lain was prosecuted in Court for the contravention of Sections 29(3), 32 and 49(2) of the Telecommunications Act (Cap.323).

On 25 March 2020, the Court imposed the following fines on Sam Lain:

(a) $25,000 for its contravention of Section 29(3);

(b) $25,000 for its contravention of Section 32; and

(c) $120,000 for its contravention of Section 49(2) of the Act.

Aik Leong Plumbing Construction Pte Ltd (“Aik Leong”) was the subcontractor engaged to carry out sewer diversion and manhole works at the junction of Commonwealth Avenue West and Ghim Moh Link.

The service plans and the cable detection report obtained by Aik Leong indicated the presence of telecommunication cables belonging to Singapore Telecommunications Limited (“Singtel”) and CityNet Infrastructure Management Pte Ltd (“CityNet”) in the vicinity of the earthworks.

Despite the above information, on 17 February 2016, Aik Leong carried out boring works earthworks using mechanical equipment without first ascertaining the location of Singtel’s and CityNet’s cables.

In the course of carrying out the earthworks, Aik Leong damaged six (6) fibre cables belonging to both Singtel and CityNet at the junction of Commonwealth West Avenue and Ghim Moh Link. This incident resulted in the disruption of telecommunication services for about 9 hours and affected an estimated 1,050 residential end-users and 35 business end-users.

Aik Leong was prosecuted in Court for contravention of Sections 29(3), 32 and 49(2) of the Telecommunications Act (Cap.323).

On 12 September 2018, the Court imposed the following fines on Aik Leong:

(a) $20,000 for its contravention of Section 29(3);

(b) $20,000 for its contravention of Section 32; and

(c) $130,000 for its contravention of Section 49(2) of the Act.

Huat Beng Engineering Construction Pte Ltd (“Huat Beng”) was the main contractor engaged to carry out underground cable installation, road reinstatement and cable jointing along Bukit Batok East Avenue 6 (near to the junction of Bukit Batok Street 22).

The service plans and the cable detection report obtained by Huat Beng indicated the presence of telecommunication cables belonging to CityNet Infrastructure Management Pte Ltd (in its capacity as Trustee-Manager of Netlink Trust) (“CityNet”) in the vicinity of the earthworks.

Despite the above information, on 5 May 2015, Huat Beng carried out the earthworks using mechanical equipment without first ascertaining the location of CityNet’s cables.

In the course of carrying out the earthworks, Huat Beng damaged three (3) fibre cables, which resulted in disruption of telecommunication services of about 12 hours and affected an estimated 1,124 residential end-users and 3 business end-users.

Huat Beng was prosecuted in Court for the contravention of Sections 32 and 49(2) of the Telecommunications Act (Cap.323).

On 23 February 2018, the Court imposed the following fines on Huat Beng:

(a) $28,000 for its contravention of Section 32; and

(b) $140,000 for its contravention of Section 49(2).

Weng Guan Technology Pte Ltd (“Weng Guan”) was the subcontractor engaged to carry out underground horizontal directional drilling works, along the fast lane of Victoria Street (towards New Bridge Road) from lamp post 11 to lamp post 15 undercrossing Bras Basah Road.

The service plans and the cable detection report obtained by Weng Guan indicated the presence of telecommunication cables belonging to Singtel Telecommunications Limited (“Singtel”) in the vicinity of the earthworks.

On 1 October 2015, Weng Guan used mechanical equipment to pull power cable pipes into a bored hole without having complied with all reasonable requirements of Singtel for the prevention of damage to Singtel’s telecommunication cables. In particular, Weng Guan had –

(a) failed to expose Singtel’s telecommunication cables by manual digging before it commenced its earthworks; and

(b) failed to seek Singtel’s assistance when it could not locate Singtel’s telecommunication cables within its trial holes.

Weng Guan also failed to first ascertain the location of the telecommunication cables belonging to Singtel before it carried out the earthworks using mechanical equipment.

In the course of carrying out the earthworks, Weng Guan damaged eight (8) fibre cables and two (2) copper cables, which resulted in disruption of telecommunication services of about 19 hours and affected 1,086 business circuits and 7 3G/4G mobile base stations, including 2 public institutions.

Weng Guan was prosecuted in Court for the contravention of Sections 29(3), 32 and 49(2) of the Telecommunications Act (Cap.323).

On 27 February 2018, the Court imposed the following fines on Weng Guan:

(a) $27,000 for its contravention of Section 29(3);

(b) $27,000 for its contravention of Section 32; and

(c) $200,000 for its contravention of Section 49(2).

Ryobi Geotechnique International Pte Ltd (“Ryobi Geotech”) was the main contractor for the instrumentation and monitoring works for the construction of Woodlands North MRT Station and its associated tunnels.

On 31 July 2015, Ryobi Geotech failed to ascertain the location of telecommunication cables belonging to CityNet Infrastructure Management Pte Ltd (in its capacity as Trustee-Manager of Netlink Trust) (“CityNet”) before its boring works with mechanical equipment.

In the course of carrying out the earthworks, Ryobi Geotech damaged eight (8) fibre cables, which resulted in disruption of telecommunication services of about 8 hours and affected an estimated 1,100 end-users living in and around Woodlands.

Ryobi Geotech was prosecuted in Court for its contravention of Sections 32 and 49(2) of the Telecommunications Act (Cap.323).

On 3 January 2018, the Court imposed the following fines on Ryobi Geotech:

(a) $30,000 for its contravention of Section 32; and;

(b) $130,000 for its contravention of Section 49(2).

Eng Lee Engineering Pte Ltd (“Eng Lee”) was the main contractor for the installation of the sewer pipes along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 to Buangkok Green.

On 21 January 2016, Eng Lee commenced installation of sheet piles using a mechanical equipment without having complied with all reasonable requirements of Singtel Telecommunications Limited (“SingTel”) for the prevention of damage to SingTel’s telecommunication cables that were in the vicinity of the earthworks. In particular, Eng Lee had –

(a) failed to arrange with SingTel to carry out an on-site inspection of the trial holes dug by Eng Lee; and

(b) failed to seek SingTel’s assistance when it could not locate SingTel’s telecommunication cables within the trial holes.

Eng Lee also failed to first ascertain the location of telecommunication cables belonging to SingTel and CityNet Infrastructure Management Pte Ltd (in its capacity as Trustee-Manager of Netlink Trust) (“CityNet”) before installing the sheet piles with mechanical equipment.

In the course of carrying out the earthworks, Eng Lee damaged eight (8) fibre cables and one (1) copper cable, which resulted in disruption of telecommunication services of about 23 hours and affected an estimated 3,566 end-users in Sengkang, Ang Mo Kio, Yio Chu Kang, Seletar and Serangoon North areas.

Eng Lee was prosecuted in Court for its contravention of Sections 29(3), 32 and 49(2) of the Telecommunications Act (Cap.323).

On 11 December 2017, the Court imposed the following fines on Eng Lee:

(a) $15,000 for its contravention of Section 29(3);

(b) $15,000 for its contravention of Section 32;and

(c) $200,000 for its contravention of Section 49(2).

Tiong Seng Contractors (Private) Ltd – Dongah Geological Engineering Co. Ltd (Singapore Branch) Joint Venture ("Tiong Seng") was the main contractor for the construction of the Great World MRT station and its associated tunnels for the Thomson-East Coast MRT Line.

Tiong Seng engaged Foundation Alliance Pte Ltd (“Foundation Alliance”) as the subcontractor to carry out bored piling works and king post installation near the junction of Kim Seng Road and Kim Seng Promenade.

On 11 June 2015, Foundation Alliance commenced bored piling works without first ascertaining the location of telecommunication cables belonging to NetLink Trust (“NLT”) that were located within the vicinity of the earthworks.

Foundation Alliance damaged thirteen (13) of NLT’s telecommunication cables, which affected an estimated 1,512 end-users in the Bukit Merah, Outram, Tanjong Pagar and Tiong Bahru areas.

Foundation Alliance was prosecuted in Court for its contravention of Sections 32 and 49(2) of the Telecommunications Act.

Foundation Alliance was subject to the supervision or instructions of Tiong Seng for the purposes of its employment as Tiong Seng’s subcontractor in the course of which the damage to NLT’s telecommunication cables was caused by Foundation Alliance.

Tiong Seng was prosecuted in Court for its contravention of Section 49(3) of the Telecommunications Act.

On 3 May 2017, the Court imposed the following fines on Foundation Alliance:

(a) $30,000 for its contravention of Section 32; and

On 1 November 2017, the Court imposed a fine of $130,000 on Tiong Seng for its contravention of Section 49(3).

Singapore Piling & Civil Engineering Pte Ltd (“SPACE”) was the main contractor for the widening of the Keppel Viaduct.

SPACE awarded the micro piling works along Keppel Road to CS Construction & Geotechnic Pte Ltd (“CSCG”).

On 8 April 2014, CSCG commenced the micro piling works without first ascertaining the exact location of Singapore Telecommunications Limited’s (“SingTel”) telecommunication cable.

CSCG damaged twelve (12) SingTel optical fibre cables which affected voice services to 153 end users, broadband/data services to 507 end users and 24 3G mobile base stations.

CSCG was prosecuted in Court for contravention of Sections 32 and 49(2) of the Telecommunications Act.

On 20 February 2017, the Court imposed the following fines on CSCG:

(a) $25,000 for contravention of Section 32; and