South Korea's 5G service users increase by about 600 percent since 2019

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• SK Telecom Wins Network X Award for Innovative 5G Service SK Telecom (SKT) announced on October 14 that it received the 'Most Innovative 5G Communication Service' award at the Network X event held in Vienna, Austria, recognizing its competitive edge in artificial intelligence transformation (AX) technology for communication networks.The award was given for SKT's 'AI-RAN Based Autonomous Vehicle Movement (AVM) Technology.'Network X is an international event in the fixed and mobile communication network sector organized by Informa, a global ICT media and research company.SKT's AI-RAN technology was acknowledged for implementing a new type of communication service that directly perceives and controls vehicles in the field.AI-RAN is a next-generation technology that provides communication and AI services on a single network infrastructure. SKT developed and demonstrated AI-RAN base stations to ensure stable communication quality even while processing AI services.AVM is a service that intelligently manages the transportation and alignment of vehicles based on a network. LiDAR sensors installed on-site send point cloud data, which the AI-RAN base station uses to create a digital twin in real-time, calculate collision-free routes, and issue driving commands to the vehicles.As a result, even standard vehicles without autonomous driving capabilities can be transported autonomously by installing the necessary modules and programs.The service demonstration was conducted through an autonomous valet parking trial at an actual parking facility, where the entire process—from sensor data collection to AI decision-making and driving command delivery—was completed within the required time for controlling unmanned vehicles.This demonstration confirmed the potential to expand the automation range, previously limited to the latest autonomous vehicles, to include standard vehicles and robots. Once commercialized, this technology will enable telecom companies to provide management services for multiple vehicles based on existing 5G infrastructure, potentially offering new subscription-based revenue models depending on scale.SKT plans to apply this technology to complete vehicle factories through a national project focused on creating a hyper AI network by 2027 and will conduct real-world demonstrations in industrial settings. The company aims to expand its application to large logistics sites such as ports and airports, evolving alongside the transition to 5G standalone mode (SA) and 6G, ultimately developing AI-RAN-based physical AI services.Ryu Tak-ki, head of SKT's network technology division, stated, "We will enhance AI-RAN-based physical AI services and accelerate the evolution toward autonomous networks to provide new value to customers and industrial sites."* This article has been translated by AI.
• Hana Financial Group Launches First 5G Dedicated Network in Finance Sector Hana Financial Group has partnered with SK Telecom and Samsung Electronics to establish the first dedicated 5G network for operational use in the finance sector. Hana Financial TI announced on September 28 that it has built a group smart office based on a 5G dedicated network at its headquarters in Cheongna, Incheon. A dedicated 5G network is an independent communication network that utilizes exclusive frequencies for specific companies or facilities. The network covers a total of 16 floors, from the basement to the 15th floor of the Cheongna headquarters, serving approximately 3,000 employees from 10 affiliated companies, including Hana Financial Holdings and Hana Bank. Hana Financial TI oversees the entire project and has completed the registration as a telecommunications service provider. It directly manages the group’s dedicated communication network, utilizing exclusive frequencies and numbers allocated by the Ministry of Science and ICT for network construction, operation, quality management, fault response, and security. SK Telecom is responsible for the design and technical support of the 5G dedicated network, as well as the integration of the operational network and the establishment of security and integrated control systems. Samsung Electronics supplied core communication equipment and participated in technical collaboration for network construction. Employees can choose workspaces based on their tasks instead of having fixed desks. This setup allows project members to collaborate in shared spaces or rearrange office areas according to organizational changes. Given that the communication network is used for financial operations, security measures have been enhanced. A dedicated operational network has been established, separate from external networks, allowing only authorized users and work devices to connect. Park Geun-young, CEO of Hana Financial TI, stated, “We have created a future-oriented work environment that allows employees to communicate and collaborate without spatial constraints while complying with financial security regulations. We will proactively respond to the expansion of AI and data-driven operations.”* This article has been translated by AI.
• KCA to Integrate AI into 5G Specialized Networks "We will actively support domestic companies in verifying and commercializing specialized networks and next-generation AI network technologies by linking demonstration environments with R&D," said Lee Sang-hoon, head of the Korea Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (KCA). AI is no longer limited to creating broadcasting content. It now manages communication networks and operates factories and logistics. KCA, which was once a broadcasting and radio support agency, is expanding its role as an infrastructure institution for industrial AI. What does AI need to function effectively? Most people think of GPUs and data centers. However, even the smartest AI is hindered if the pathways for data are blocked. Just as the human brain uses nerves to move the body, AI requires a network to receive information and transmit commands. Now, AI is beginning to inhabit that neural network. A prime example is the 'Next-Generation Network AI Foundation Model Development' project, led by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) with KCA, KT, and HFR. This national R&D initiative aims to create a Network AI Foundation Model (NFM) by 2030. While generative AI learns human language, NFM aims to understand and operate networks by learning from the data generated within communication networks. KCA's role is hands-on. It involves collecting log data from 5G specialized networks to build a data lake, refining various multimodal data, and deploying AI agents in actual specialized network operations for validation. This process is not just about creating models in a lab; it involves running them on live networks. The key to this transformation lies in operational methods. Traditionally, communication networks have relied on human oversight to monitor conditions and troubleshoot issues. If AI can read vast amounts of network data in real-time, it can detect anomalies, identify causes of failures, and assist in operations. We are transitioning from an era where AI uses networks to one where AI manages networks. This shift is particularly relevant for 5G specialized networks, which differ from public mobile networks. These dedicated networks are tailored for factories, logistics centers, hospitals, and agricultural facilities. In environments where numerous machines, sensors, and robots connect simultaneously, fast and reliable communication is not optional; it is essential. The potential of this technology is exemplified by the Jeonnam Muan Southwest Vegetable Cooperative's Agricultural Production Center (APC). KCA has installed a 5G specialized network there, automating the process of sorting, packaging, and shipping agricultural products using 5G, robotics, sensing, and autonomous driving technologies. In the AI era, communication networks must be open. This is where open RAN becomes crucial. Open RAN technology transforms networks into an open structure, allowing equipment and software from different manufacturers to work together. This breaks the dependency on specific corporate equipment and opens the door for more companies to enter the network ecosystem. KCA is assisting companies in testing and validating specialized network devices and services at the 'I-eum 5G Testbed' in Iksan, North Jeolla Province. This platform allows companies with new technologies to test their products without having to build a network from scratch. The role of public institutions in the AI era is critical. Developing technology alone does not automatically create an industry. It is essential to verify whether successful technologies from the lab can operate in factories and logistics centers, enabling companies to turn them into marketable products. There exists a 'valley of validation' between technology and market. Small and medium-sized enterprises and startups with good technology often struggle to cross this valley due to the high costs of creating test environments that resemble industrial settings. This is why KCA must connect testing grounds and R&D to support the commercialization of businesses. As networks become smarter, the importance of security increases. In a scenario where factories, robots, and logistics centers are interconnected, a breach in the communication network can lead to more than just slow internet; it can halt production lines and disrupt robots and autonomous equipment. KCA's involvement in developing identification and testing technologies for 5G specialized network devices based on quantum security is crucial. As we enter the era of quantum computing, existing encryption systems will face new challenges. It is essential to integrate new security technologies, such as post-quantum cryptography (PQC), into networks and validate them in real-world environments. AI, 5G, open RAN, and quantum security may seem like distinct technologies, but they operate as a cohesive unit in industrial settings. For AI to make decisions, data must flow, and for data to flow, a network is necessary. This network must incorporate equipment from various companies, and the entire system must be secure. If AI is the brain, the network is the nervous system, and security is the immune system. Broadcasting is no exception. The boundaries between broadcasting, telecommunications, and radio, once distinct, are rapidly dissolving in the AI era. KCA is supporting AI and digital-based broadcasting program production, encouraging the use of AI throughout planning, production, and distribution. Generative AI significantly streamlines many aspects of the production process, including research, video and image creation, subtitles, and translation. This presents a unique opportunity for small broadcasters and production companies. Content that once required substantial budgets and personnel can now be created by smaller teams. If translation and dubbing costs are reduced, domestic small production companies can target global markets from the outset. However, KCA's AI transformation should not be confined to broadcasting support. Network AI, 5G specialized networks, open RAN, quantum security, and AI in broadcasting content all fit into a larger picture: laying the groundwork for an AI-driven industry. The national infrastructure in the AI era will not be limited to data centers; it will connect numerous spaces, including manufacturing plants, logistics centers, agricultural facilities, and broadcasting production sites through AI networks. This is why Lee Sang-hoon emphasizes the connection between demonstration environments and R&D. It is not enough to create a technology with government research funds; companies must test that technology in real environments and pave the way for entering international markets. The future of KCA, which has managed radio waves and supported broadcasting, lies here. KCA aims to become a platform that connects technology companies, broadcasters, telecommunications firms, manufacturers, research institutions, and markets, facilitating the integration of AI and network technologies into industrial settings. The competition in AI will not be determined solely by who creates the best model. The country that successfully implements that AI in factories, logistics, broadcasting, and urban environments will emerge victorious. The effort to establish an 'AI neural network' in South Korea's industry is where KCA's AI transformation, led by Lee Sang-hoon, begins. Lee Sang-hoon, head of KCA, is an expert in ICT administration who has dealt with policies in the fields of radio, broadcasting, information technology, and information security. He served as the Director of Multilateral Cooperation at the Ministry of Science and ICT, Director of Information Security Planning at the Ministry of Science and ICT, Director of the Postal Business Information Center, and Head of the Central Radio Management Office before being appointed as the 8th head of KCA in November 2023. He is leading the promotion of the broadcasting media industry, the establishment of a radio utilization environment, and the validation and industrial expansion of next-generation ICT technologies such as 5G specialized networks, network AI, and open RAN.* This article has been translated by AI.