Development of technology for simultaneous support of 5G standalone and non-standalone modes
Preemptively introduce CUPS to accommodate SA and NSA simultaneously
Providing stable communication quality by applying edge communication centers


KT announced on the 3rd that it has completed the development and construction of core network technology capable of simultaneously accommodating 5G Standalone (SA) and Non-Standalone (NSA) services.

Currently, domestic 5G services are provided using the NSA method. NSA separates the control portion to the LTE network and the data portion to the 5G network, whereas SA processes both control and data through the 5G network. Since SA does not go through the LTE network, it is expected to reduce latency and consume less battery power compared to the NSA method.

To transition to SA services, equipment that meets the SA service requirements defined in the SA international standard of the 3GPP must be developed and introduced. KT proactively introduced Control & User Plane Separation (CUPS) and completed the construction of a separate core network for SA services.

When KT launched its NSA-based 5G commercial service last April, it was the only domestic telecommunications operator to introduce CUPS technology into its NSA core network. Since then, we have continuously advanced this technology and succeeded in developing the nation's first '5G integrated core technology' capable of simultaneously accommodating both NSA and SA standards.

KT collaborated closely with Samsung Electronics from the design stage to build the '5G SA-NSA integrated core network.' It applied core SA technologies such as a long-distance standard CUPS structure, 5G integrated session management, virtualization infrastructure integrated orchestration, service-customized network slicing, and ultra-low latency edge communication center access control.

In the case of other companies' NSA core networks that do not apply CUPS technology, a separate core network for SA services must be built and interconnected with the existing NSA core network. However, based on 5G integrated core technology, KT can accommodate SA services as well simply by upgrading the software on existing installed and operating NSA core equipment, without installing new equipment.

KT plans to apply 5G integrated core technology to eight edge communication centers nationwide. Through this, it plans to rapidly provide ultra-low latency 5G services to SA users via a nationwide 5G integrated core network based on these edge communication centers.