More than 1,000 organisations take part in a two-week national exercise to prepare Singapore for digital disruptions and power outages.
The third edition of Singapore’s national-level Total Defence exercise, Exercise SG Ready (ESR) 2026, officially kicked off today at the Total Defence Commemoration Event (TDCE) held at Our Tampines Hub. Over the next two weeks, more than 1,000 organisations across Singapore will participate in simulated activities to test readiness for disruptions.
The launch event was attended by Minister for Digital Development and Information Mrs Josephine Teo and Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad, together with community leaders and representatives from participating organisations. The exercise focuses on strengthening preparedness for degraded digital connectivity and prolonged power outages.
In her speech, Mrs Josephine Teo said preparedness is a shared responsibility. She highlighted the role of businesses, individuals, and communities in Total Defence, alongside the SAF and Home Team. She also unveiled the pilot National Simulated Scams Exercise (NSSE), a joint initiative by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore and the Ministry of Home Affairs, aimed at strengthening public awareness and resilience against scams.
As part of the launch, the Public Warning System (PWS) “Important Message” signal was broadcast islandwide at 3.00pm. The Land Transport Authority also conducted a pilot test of Broadcast Alert Messages via ERP 2.0 On-Board Units, with motorists receiving alerts ahead of the PWS activation.
Following the signal, a Total Defence message by Coordinating Minister for National Security Mr K Shanmugam was aired across all local radio stations and free-to-air television channels. He reminded Singaporeans of recent cyber threats to critical infrastructure and attempts by foreign actors to undermine trust, calling on the public to take part in the exercise and be prepared for evolving threats.
A pilot Community Mobilisation activity was also conducted at two HDB blocks in Tampines. During a simulated scenario involving prolonged power outages and disrupted digital services, Total Defence Champions worked with People’s Association Community Emergency Response Team (PA CERT) volunteers to reach out to residents, share key information, and identify households requiring assistance.
Exercise SG Ready 2026 runs from 1 February to 15 February 2026 and is co-led by MINDEF, together with IMDA, EMA, PA, and SCDF. The exercise encourages individuals, communities, and organisations to plan for disruptions, prepare to respond, and play their part in keeping Singapore safe and resilient.
Members of the public can find more information and check activities near them on the Exercise SG Ready website.
Source: MINDEF
