South Korea’s leading telecommunications company KT Corp. pledged on Tuesday that it will offer the world’s first commercial service of fifth-generation (5G) mobile network in 2019, a year earlier than its initial goal of 2020.

In a press conference at KT Square in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, KT said it aims to commercialize a 5G connection after it demonstrates its trial service based on standardized 5G-SIG specifications during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in Korea and manages to meet global standardization requirements.

5G is a next-generation wireless network technology that boasts of more than 20 times faster data transfer speed compared to the currently available long term evolution (LTE) service. This advanced connection is said to be essential in fostering the growth of fledgling technologies such as virtual reality, three-dimensional multi streaming videos, self-driving vehicles, and delivery drones.

Following the announcement on Tuesday, KT added a new section to its web site dedicated to 5G services and unveiled specifications of its 5G-SIG standard that has been jointly developed by major global vendors including Nokia Corp., Intel Corp., Qualcomm Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. KT has invited mobile device manufacturers and developers at home and abroad to take part in its initiative to establish a standard for 5G network technology for the trial service and accelerate global standardization of 5G network technology.

According to KT, its 5G-SIG specifications meet more than 70 percent of major 5G requirements and technical criteria presented by global mobile technology organizations including the International Telecommunications Union and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project.

An unnamed official from KT expected that the introduction of its 5G standard specifications would enhance research by small- and mid-size enterprises and research institutes from home and abroad on 5G repeaters, components and devices, and encourage them to join KT’s 5G standard.

KT and global vendors plan to complete the development of 5G base stations, related devices, and core network equipment this year, which will be used for the trial service in 2018. They plan to establish a 5G test network in February next year, and complete the trial service in the following year during PyeongChang Winter Olympics before ultimately standardizing 5G wireless network.

By Lim Sung-hyun

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]