SK Telecom will commercialize its 'cloud-native next-generation 5G core' in earnest in 2022.

SK Telecom (CEO Yoo Young-sang) announced on the 15th that it has begun building 'Cloud-Native-based next-generation 5G core' equipment, aiming for commercialization in the first quarter of 2022.

Cloud-native refers to the design and production of various services and applications based on a cloud environment. Compared to hardware equipment, it offers advantages such as shortened service launch times through rapid updates and guaranteed stability.

SKT announced that it has preemptively developed a 'cloud-native-based next-generation 5G core' with Ericsson, completed the verification process, and begun construction based on the judgment that the introduction of the technology in the mobile communications field is also necessary.

The 'cloud-native next-generation 5G core' is currently being commercialized with great interest from global telecommunications companies. This is the first case of a domestically developed and deployed system, and SKT and Ericsson expect this to be a case that sets a standard for the cloud-native 5G core field in the industry.

The next-generation 5G core will embrace the advantages of cloud-native architecture, enabling rapid implementation of new features and significantly improving service stability. Additionally, flexible software migration and real-time recovery capabilities enable rapid recovery in the event of network errors or failures.

In particular, the latest technologies related to packet acceleration, route optimization, and multi-flow control for ultra-high-speed, high-capacity 5G services are expected to improve traffic processing efficiency by up to 50% compared to existing physical infrastructure.

In addition, it enables faster adoption of specialized networks such as private 5G that require separate data centers, and provides communication services without quality degradation through rapid resource allocation in the cloud, even in situations such as localized traffic surges.

Meanwhile, SKT expects that its new 5G core equipment will be designed to support the next-generation 5G standalone mode (SA, Option 4), allowing customers to experience enhanced network quality with the introduction of 5G standalone mode (Option 4).

SKT’s Park Jong-kwan, head of infrastructure technology, said, “By building the ‘cloud-native-based next-generation 5G core,’ we can now introduce newly developed network functions to customers more quickly and reliably,” and added, “We will continue to develop and apply next-generation network technologies that will help customers use 5G in the future.”

“We are delighted to achieve another significant 5G milestone together with SK Telecom in Korea, a leading market for 5G communications,” said Monica Zethzon, Head of Solutions Packet Core, Ericsson. “With Ericsson’s 5G core solutions, we will continue to support an innovative ecosystem that enables tailored 5G services for consumers and businesses around the world.”