Singapore Rewrites Asset Rules to Power Future-Proof Infrastructure

New ISO 55001 rules demand strategy-driven, data-rich decisions for Asia-Pacific’s vital networks.

14 Jul 2025

Singapore is rewriting the playbook for managing its most critical infrastructure. The city-state has adopted the 2024 edition of ISO 55001 as SS ISO 55001:2025, a move published by Enterprise Singapore in early 2025 that raises the stakes for industries from energy grids to subsea cable networks.

The new rules shift asset management from a maintenance checklist to a discipline rooted in strategy and hard data. Every operational decision must now be tied directly to business goals and backed by verifiable evidence. For a nation determined to cement its role as a regional connectivity hub, reliability has never been more vital.

“This is a mindset shift,” said a senior executive from a regional cable consortium. “The standard forces us to connect operational decisions with strategic risk planning. That is not just governance, it is good business.”

Technology providers will also need to keep pace. Asset management tools must now track performance across an asset’s life span, deliver precise reports, and embed predictive analytics. For subsea cable operators, rapid fault detection and detailed repair histories could mean the difference between hours of downtime and days of costly disruption.

Smaller operators running on outdated systems may struggle to adjust, but the long-term rewards are clear. Stronger data drives better decisions, and better decisions strengthen the region’s most vital networks. Analysts suggest Singapore’s overhaul could inspire similar reforms across the Asia-Pacific, setting a new standard for transparency and risk management.

By tightening its asset rules now, Singapore is not only protecting what it has built but also preparing for what is to come. If neighbors follow its lead, the region could be entering a new era in safeguarding the invisible systems that keep its economies moving.