KT has completed small cell technology verification with telecommunications equipment specialist Innowireless.

KT announced on the 21st that it has successfully developed a 'small cell' capable of providing simultaneous 5G and LTE services together with Innowireless, a telecommunications equipment specialist, and completed performance verification.

A small cell is a small mobile communication base station that is a communication device that increases service range and capacity in shadow areas where signals from general base stations are weak or unavailable.

The 5G/LTE integrated small cell developed by the two companies transmits and receives 5G data (4T4R) with four antennas and transmits and receives LTE (2T2R) with two antennas. This is the first time that six antennas have been installed in a single small cell. The device supports both 5G standalone mode (SA) and non-standalone mode (NSA: Non StandAlone).

KT explained, “The number of antennas in the small cell has doubled compared to before, which improves signal quality and expands service coverage,” and “the data transmission and reception speed increases by up to two times (up to 1.4 Gbps download speed).”

Meanwhile, KT developed the LTE small cell 'GiGA Atto' in 2017, which can be easily installed by simply connecting an internet line. Currently, about 200,000 GiGA Atto units are being used by customers nationwide. The technological prowess and know-how accumulated during the Giga Ato development process played a major role in the development of this small cell.

KT Network Technology Division Head and Managing Director Koo Jae-hyung said, “Through our collaboration with Innowireless, we have secured a solution to expand the scope of 5G services and improve customer experience quality,” adding, “We will continue to strengthen KT’s 5G service competitiveness through cooperation with domestic telecommunications equipment companies with excellent technological capabilities.”