SK Telecom has entered the first phase of the 'Korean Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge (K-UAM Grand Challenge)' demonstration project and is aiming for the commercialization of domestic UAM services in 2025.

SK Telecom announced on the 31st that it submitted a proposal to participate in the Phase 1 demonstration project of the 'Korean Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge (K-UAM Grand Challenge)' organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, together with Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, Korea Meteorological Industry & Technology Institute, and Korea Land Information Corporation.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is conducting a Grand Challenge to verify safety, establish appropriate safety standards, and support industry testing and demonstration ahead of the first commercialization of UAM in 2025. It plans to evaluate the operators who submitted proposals and select the operators to carry out the demonstration projects within the year.

In the first phase of the demonstration ('23), the safety of the UAM airframe and communication system will be verified and the integrated operation of the K-UAM transportation system will be checked at the National Flight Performance Test Center in Goheung, Jeonnam. Phase 2 will proceed starting in 2024, taking into account the performance of Phase 1 in the urban area.

SKT said that the consortium was formed within 'UAM Team Korea,' a public-private consultative body led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and included in its proposal a plan to acquire global-level capabilities, such as those in the U.S. and Europe, through cooperation with participating organizations, focusing on flight systems and flight support information.

SKT announced that it will lead the overall tasks within the consortium, including UAM operation systems and UAM traffic management systems, as well as actual aircraft-based demonstrations.

A real-time integrated flight support information system is established to provide information necessary for UAM operation, such as topographic information, noise, weather (weather conditions), and radio wave quality, and the connection between 5G and 4G communication and UAM is also tested for low-altitude (300~600m) operation of UAM aircraft in urban areas.

Korea Airports Corporation and Hanwha Systems are jointly developing a UAM traffic management system to analyze flight data, such as flight plan approval, traffic flow display, and expected route generation, for the safe operation of aircraft, and to demonstrate vertiport construction, area monitoring, and ground operations related to security and safety. The Korea Land and Geospatial Information Corporation implements 3D maps, and the Korea Meteorological Industry & Technology Institute conducts research related to meteorological information for vertiports and UAM routes.

Meanwhile, SKT signed a strategic business agreement with Joby Aviation, a U.S. global company in the UAM aircraft manufacturing sector, earlier this year.

SKT announced plans to introduce the S4 aircraft, which has undergone over 1,000 tests and has battery efficiency capable of flying up to 240 km with a top speed of 320 km/h and carrying four people, referencing Joby Aviation’s experience with demonstration tests at NASA.

SKT CEO Yoo Young-sang stated, “To successfully commercialize domestic UAM services by 2025, we will lead future mobility by systematically conducting technology research and safety verification with world-class partners.”