(Reuters) - Singapore Telecommunications posted a 5.4% rise in its first-quarter profit on Thursday, driven by strong performance in its core operations.

The telecom operator posted an underlying net profit of S$603 million ($458.28 million), compared with S$571 million a year earlier.

($1 = 1.3158 Singapore dollars)

(Reporting by Shivangi Lahiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)