SK Telecom's urban air mobility (UAM) linkage technology standardization proposal has been approved as a global standard task, and it is moving closer to taking the lead in global standards for UAM services.

SK Telecom announced on the 8th that its proposed 'UAM service linkage structure and method for a stable UAM service environment' was approved as a standard task by 'SG (Study Group) 11' of the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (hereinafter ITU-T).

Accordingly, SKT will develop detailed standards with its member companies, including the interconnection structure between each UAM layer and the types of data for interconnection. After the detailed standards go through preliminary approval and final adoption, they will become official global standards.

ITU-T is an organization that conducts research and standardization on standards of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an international organization for information and communication technology under the United Nations (UN). ITU-T 'SG 11' is a research division that deals with the interconnection structure and methods of various ICT fields.

SKT is developing the following: △Flight characteristics of UAM aircraft △Communication network system △UAM-specific Considering UAM's unique operation system, such as the skyway 'Corridor' and dedicated takeoff and landing pad 'Vertiport', we proposed the UAM service linkage structure and method to SG 11.

In particular, it was reported that the UAM service linkage structure was classified into three layers: service layer (operation and control system), network layer (ground network, airspace network, vertiport), and aircraft and fleet layer (aircraft, corridor), and a roadmap for the linkage structure and data communication between each layer was presented.

This is the first time that a real service technology for the security of UAM networks has been approved as an ITU-T standard task, and SKT has revealed its ambition to highlight its ICT capabilities in the UAM industry, which requires various technologies such as AI, autonomous driving, and communications.

If SKT's standardization proposal is adopted as a global standard in the future, it is expected to take the lead in establishing global standards for UAM services, and in terms of the UAM industry, it is expected to have the effect of facilitating interconnection between UAM systems developed by different manufacturers and developers.

Lee Jong-min, SKT’s Future R&D Manager, said, “The significance of this standard task approval is that the ITU-T, a credible international standardization organization, not only sympathizes with the importance of UAM-related technologies, but also acknowledges SKT’s technological prowess in the UAM field.” He added, “Through SKT’s UAM standardization, we will contribute to the development of the domestic and international UAM industry and revitalization of the ecosystem.”

Meanwhile, SKT has submitted a proposal for participation in the first phase of the demonstration project of the 'Korea Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge (K-UAM Grand Challenge)' hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) since May, together with Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, Korea Meteorological Administration, and Korea Land and Geospatial Informatix Corporation, and is working together for the commercialization of UAM. We have been conducting joint research.