SK Telecom Pledges to Commercialize 5G Network Service by 2020

Strategic Insights -

South Korean telecommunications company SK Telecom has opened the world's first research facility for 5G network development, in collaboration with global technology firms. The 5G Global Innovation Center in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, is designed to accelerate the introduction of the new technology, which promises faster data transmission and new services. SK Telecom has pledged to test-operate a new 5G network in 2017 and commercialize a globally-standardized 5G network service by 2020.

Key Takeaways:

  • SK Telecom has established the 5G Global Innovation Center in collaboration with global IT firms, including Samsung Electronics, Ericsson, Nokia, Intel, and Rohde and Schwartz, to develop and test new 5G network technologies.
  • The company aims to commercialize a globally-standardized 5G network service by 2020, with a temporary version of the standard expected to be released in 2017.
  • The research center will host various facilities, including the 5G Testbed, Virtual Experience Room, and T Open Lab, to support startups and demonstrate 5G technologies.
  • SK Telecom has demonstrated several 5G technologies, including the fastest wireless data transmission ever developed (19.1 Gbps), network slicing, and 3D beam-forming technology.
  • The company has partnered with Nokia to develop a 5G network service that can reach speeds of over 250 times faster than the initial LTE service.
  • SK Telecom has also showcased various 5G-related services, including 4K ultra-high-definition live broadcasting, next-generation multimedia services, 5G robots, and telemedicine education simulation.

Statistics:

  • Over 40 million customers subscribe to LTE services in Korea.
  • The 5G network is expected to be standardized by the latter half of 2018.
  • The temporary version of the 5G standard is expected to be released in 2017.
  • The 5G network promises faster data transmission, with speeds of up to 19.1 Gbps (combined multiple antenna and super-high frequency data transmission technologies).
  • The initial LTE service reached speeds of up to 75 megabits-per-second.

Sources:

  • Yoon Sung-won. (2016). SK Telecom opens 5G research center. Korea Times.