SK Telecom announced that it deployed an AI-based network operating system for the first time at a large-scale K-pop concert held in the Gwanghwamun area of Seoul, maintaining normal-level communication quality even amidst a massive crowd. The company explained that while instantaneous data demand surged as users concentrated in a confined space in the heart of the city, it managed communication stability by simultaneously responding to real-time traffic and expanding temporary facilities.

SK Telecom announced that a total of 12.15 TB of mobile data was used between 7 PM and 10 PM on the 21st, covering the three hours before and after the performances held in the areas of Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggye Square, and Seoul Square. This is approximately double the 5.87 TB recorded during the same time period on the previous weekend, March 14. The burden on telecommunications network operations had increased due to the nature of spectators flocking to the performance venues all at once.

SK Telecom’s self-developed AI-based network operation system, 'A-One (Access All-in-One),' was applied for the first time at this site. The system operated by monitoring traffic conditions on the day of the performance at 5-minute intervals and 50-meter units, and proposing traffic distribution and resource reallocation plans when a risk of overload was detected. It is a form in which pre-design and real-time response are performed simultaneously at large-scale event sites.

Performance characteristics were also evident in usage patterns. Among mobile data used during the three hours before and after the performance, the proportion of those in their 20s was the highest at 30%, followed by those in their 30s at 24%, 40s at 22%, 50s and older at 18%, and teenagers at 6%. Men showed a high proportion of downloads at 54%, while women showed a proportion of uploads at 56%, indicating different usage patterns regarding video viewing versus filming and sharing. The number of foreigners in the same time and region also increased by approximately 23% compared to the previous weekend.

To meet this demand, SK Telecom increased capacity by constructing additional temporary communication facilities beyond its existing network and prepared for an increase in foreign visitors using roaming. On the day of the performance, a total of 199 personnel from SK Telecom, SK Broadband, SK O&S, and others were deployed for emergency duty to support on-site operations.

This case demonstrates the potential of AI-based network operations in environments where users are concentrated in a short period, such as performances, festivals, and sporting events. Telecommunications companies are expected to continue expanding autonomous network operations that combine prediction and automatic control functions to respond to instantaneous traffic fluctuations in ultra-dense areas.