Korea in wireless renaissance as front-runner in 5G tech and service

[Photo by SK Telecom]

This year gave new traction to South Korea in its unrivalled edge of providing the world’s fastest and best wireless connectivity after infrastructure, hardware and software industry all successfully migrated to 5G network as the first in the world.

Since the world’s first launch of commercial service in April, subscribers in 5G reached 5 million in Korea, beating the market estimate of 1 million in the first year. The number is expected to double to 10 million next year, meaning one out of every five Koreans will be connected by 5G.

The 5G service next year will be further upscaled in a standalone (SA) version and 28-gigahertz band.

Three wireless carriers used the momentum to draw new subscribers by selling their winning points.

The No. 1 SK Telecom went global. It signed a series of deals to provide its quantum key distribution solutions to the United States and the European Union and contracts to transfer 5G commercialization technologies in Germany, Singapore, Japan and the Philippines.

In the fields of e-sports, cloud gaming and over-the-top media, the company has forged global relationships with Microsoft, Comcast, Facebook, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Deutsche Telecom.

Park Jung-ho, chief executive of SK Telecom, in his speech at the Korea-ASEAN Special Summit held last month in Busan suggested a partnership in Asia for global contents to nurture its OTT platform Wavve as Asia’s No. 1 media.

SK Telecom now is planning to add more its 5G experience zone dubbed 5G Boost Park to various places like universities, factories, subways and gymnasiums across the country to attract more subscribers.

[Photo by KT]

KT has focused on offering business-to-business platform service. It has joined hands with builder Hyundai Engineering & Construction to provide artificial intelligence-based smart home service to apartment residents and is studying connected car technologies with Hyundai Mobis based on its 5G mobile communication network built at the Hyundai Mobis test drive center in Seosan.

With Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, the mobile carrier is working on projects for building of 5G-based smart factory featuring AI-based voice-activated robotics and cloud computing management technologies.

KT also has established national infrastructure by installing its 5G network on highways and metropolitan cities across the country, as well as the highlands and islands.

[Photo by LG Uplus]

The industry’s third LG Uplus has put an emphasis on offering more contents to meet the customers’ satisfaction. It has introduced nine 5G contents including sports, shopping, gaming and entertainment channels on its broadcasting platform this year to beef up its service.

The company has teamed up with Google for VR contents and also with Nvidia to launch the cloud gaming service on its platform. It also has successfully trialed the driverless car technology on its 5G network early this year in Seoul and recently in Magok district.

[ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]