IoT infrastructure support for smart water supply management
Jointly promoting the advancement of water resource management systems, etc.
SKT to Leverage LoRa and LTE Category M1 for IoT Networks


SK Telecom announced on the 16th that it signed a business agreement with the Korea Water Resources Corporation at the SK Namsan Building in Jung-gu, Seoul to cooperate in smart water supply operation and management projects and improve water welfare based on water supply data.

Through this agreement, the two companies agreed to jointly promote IoT infrastructure support for smart water supply management, advancement of water resource management systems, and demonstration services for care for the socially vulnerable using data.

First, the two companies will cooperate to establish standards for water supply management technology based on IoT technology, and plan to select local governments as targets for smart water supply operation and management demonstrations and conduct demonstration services within the year.

In addition, we plan to analyze the water usage and usage patterns of the socially disadvantaged through big data using smart meters, and to study ways to enhance care services by combining them with SK Telecom's mobile call history and data usage.

The two companies will participate together in a nationwide smart water management infrastructure construction project and a regional water supply operation efficiency improvement project in the second half of this year.

The IoT-dedicated LoRa network will be applied to the local government water metering project promoted by SK Telecom. LoRa networks are suitable for remote metering because they consume less power than LTE, have wider communication coverage, and have lower communication costs.

SK Telecom explained, “We have also built LTE Cat. M1 nationwide, which can transmit low-capacity videos and HD-level photos, and together with LoRa, we have a nationwide IoT hybrid network.” They added, “Through this, we are providing various services such as water, gas, and electricity AMI, location control of people and objects, and facility and equipment status monitoring.”

Korea Water Resources Corporation stated, “Through this collaboration with SK Telecom, we expect to secure more stable and economical smart meter technology and continue to develop services that enhance public convenience.”