SMS As A Valid Means Of Serving Arbitration Notices Upheld By Singapore High Court

Abstract

In the case of Wang Bin v Zhong Sihui, Zhong Sihui (the "defendant") sought to set aside an enforcement order related to an arbitral award issued by the Shenzhen International Arbitration Court ("SCIA") on the basis of ineffective notice having been received in the arbitration proceedings. Specifically, the defendant complained that the notice she had received had been sent via SMS to a number registered under her husband's name. Rejecting this argument, the court found that the defendant had actual notice of the arbitration, citing inconsistencies in her testimony and supporting evidence.

The court upheld the use of SMS as a valid method for serving arbitration notices under the SCIA rules, recognizing the evolving nature of electronic communications in legal processes. This development represents significant progress in adopting pragmatic and practical solutions for effective dispute resolution in international arbitration.