Gumi Electronics & Information Technology Institute Selected as Implementing Agency
| Provision of test verification services starting from the second half of 2020
| Expected effects include enhanced product competitiveness, such as shortened development time

A testbed to support the development of 5G mobile communication terminals and devices by domestic companies will be established in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that the Gumi Electronics and Information Technology Institute (GERI) was selected as the implementing agency for the construction of a 5G testbed through a public competition.

A total of 19.8 billion won, including 12.8 billion won in state funds and 7 billion won in local funds, will be invested over five years from 2019 to 2023 to build the testbed.

Following the 5G testbed established at the Korea Information and Communications Technology Association (TTA) at the end of last year, the establishment of a testbed in the region is expected to further strengthen the foundation for supporting the development of 5G terminals and devices by domestic companies.

In the 5G testbed, a small-scale test network at the level of a mobile carrier's network is constructed to verify the functions and performance of terminals and to conduct tests to confirm whether interoperability with base stations is performed normally.

During product development, mobile devices and mobile communication services require testing to ensure that various built-in functions, such as communication quality and data upload/download capabilities, operate normally while connected to a carrier's mobile network.

By establishing a 5G testbed, the interoperability of terminals and devices intended for export with overseas telecommunication networks can be tested domestically.This allows companies to reduce their living expenses and shorten the development period.

In addition to testing and verification, it also provides technical consulting to resolve discovered issues and implements corporate support services that include 5G technical standards and specifications, as well as the latest domestic and international technology and market trends.

The Gumi Testbed is scheduled to be completed by 2023, with equipment being set up and testing spaces prepared starting in late May of this year, and testing and verification services for companies will begin in the second half of next year.