2 iconic Singtel satellite dishes along BKE dismantled, site set for future infrastructure

Two satellite dishes along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE), near Rifle Range Road, have been dismantled.

In response to Mothership queries, a Singtel spokesperson confirmed that the dismantlement of the satellites at the Bukit Timah Satellite Earth Station began in the first quarter of 2026.

"The two satellite antennas, 32m and 21m in diameter respectively, were originally built in the 1980s to support international traffic on legacy satellites," a spokesperson said.

The satellites were removed to make way for future infrastructure developments that support the connectivity needs of enterprises and customers.

Singtel also confirmed that no services or customers were affected by the dismantling, as the antennas were no longer in active use.

Close of a chapter

The two satellite dishes had stood on Bukit Timah Hill for almost 40 years.

There was only one satellite dish initially.

Officially opened in 1987, the Bukit Timah Satellite Earth Station aimed to support internal telecommunications.

It served as Singapore’s first international maritime satellite station.

The location was selected for its distance from airports and low levels of radio frequency interference.

It was also used to supplement the Sentosa Satellite Earth Station, which lacked space to accommodate additional antennas.

Only one dish, measuring 32m in diameter, was present during the opening of the satellite station.

The second dish, measuring 21m in diameter, was added in 1988.

The satellites served the Pacific and the Indian Ocean regions.

It cost S$65.5 million to build the station, with S$39 million being allocated towards the antenna and communication equipment, The Straits Times reported.

Significant milestones

In 2010, the satellites supported the processing, formatting and transmission of the 3D broadcast of the National Day Parade on Singtel’s former mio TV platform.

It has also supported high-speed communication services, including newspaper printing, banking and transmission of images via international networks.

Photo from Google Earth and Google Photos