In a move which apparently is part of Singapore Telecommunications' (SingTel) investment in new technology, the company - along with software provider Amdocs - has opened a tech development center in Israel.

In a Saturday statement pertaining to the opening of the new tech development center in partnership with Amdocs, SingTel said that voice and facial recognition will be in the initial focus area of the center, as will be systems which enhance the efficiency of mobile and Wi-Fi networks.

SingTel - the biggest telecom company in Southeast Asia - further said in its statement that its objective will be to reach out to the Israeli community of entrepreneurs for developing capabilities in key areas, together with conduct proof of concepts; and finally help the entrepreneurs commercialize them.

About SingTel's decision to open a new tech center in Israel, Allen Lew - CEO of the company's group digital life - said the company has found the wealth of talent in the country to be extremely satisfying; especially after its last-year investment in two Israeli startups, as well as its takeover of mobile advertising firm Amobee which has a technology center in Israel.

With reference to the new tech development center in Israel, Lew said that SingTel's earlier investments in Israel and the Amobee acquisition had "propelled us to open this new development center to scout for new growth engines for SingTel."