LG Uplus expands 5G software footprint in East Asia

[Photo provided by LG Uplus Corp.]

South Korea’s LG Uplus Corp. is making big headway in 5G software exports as it added Japan and Taiwan on top of China in supply of 5G-powered virtual reality content.

Japan’s second largest wireless carrier KDDI, which has about 57 million subscribers in Japan, began its 5G service last month, and Taiwan industry leader Chunghwa Telecom with more than 10 million subscribers plans to commercialize the network in July.

LG Uplus inked the first contract to export its 5G content with China Telecom, one of the top three wireless carriers in China, in October last year. In March, it signed a deal with Hong Kong’s biggest telco Hong Kong Telecom. Including the latest two contracts, the total volume of the four deals is estimated to have reached $10 million, industry sources believed. If a deal under negotiation with a European firm goes through, the company would achieve at least $20 million in export this year.

The 5G platform named U+VR allows users to enjoy more than 1,500 4K ultra-high definition (UHD) VR content including K-pop shows, games, comics, live sports, movies and travel. It features VR live show, multi-view and time slice solutions, and offers about 1,700 augmented reality (AR) content.

[Photo provided by LG Uplus Corp.]

LG Uplus has strategically focused on software power from the early stage of 5G commercialization under the leadership of the company’s vice chairman Ha Hyun-hoi. SK Telecom, another top 3 mobile carrier in the country, has been targeting artificial intelligence and e-sports markets, and KT has differentiated with others by focusing on business-to-business (B2B) market.

LG Uplus has the largest number of AR and VR content among the three major telcos. Overseas firms set to commercialize the 5G service are seeking to provide the company’s high quality content. Last year, more than 30 global telco giants including America’s AT&T, Britain’s Vodafone, and Finland’s Elisa visited the company to experience its 5G service.

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