(Image: Provided by KT Official Blog)

Installation of 35,000 wired communication lines
Construction of wireless communication network capable of simultaneously accommodating approximately 250,000 terminals

KT declared that it will realize the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics as the world's first 5G Olympics and lead the global 5G era.

On the 15th, KT held a presentation on the Games' communication network and 5G Olympics preparation status at KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Sejongno, Seoul, in the presence of officials from the PyeongChang Winter Olympics Organizing Committee and technical advisors, and showcased real-time 5G services such as 'Hologram Live' and 'Sync View'.

Through the 1988 Seoul Olympics, 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, and 2011 Daegu World Championships in Athletics, KT is actively supporting the successful hosting of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics as South Korea's representative 'international event telecommunications operator'.

To ensure the perfect execution of the largest-scale Winter Olympics, KT will install 35,000 wired communication lines based on 1,391km of communication conduits to be built in the PyeongChang area and construct a wireless communication network capable of simultaneously accommodating approximately 250,000 terminals. This is more than twice the scale of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

KT is also building the first cloud-based Data Center for an Olympics to provide more efficient and stable Games communication services, and is transmitting seamless high-quality video to viewers worldwide through three telecommunications control centers located in Gwacheon, Busan, and Gunsan, as well as large-capacity submarine cables.

Currently, more than 30% of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics' Games communication network has been completed as of February, and all communication network construction work will be finished by the end of this year according to the competition facility construction schedule. From 2017 onwards, the plan is to begin full-scale Games communication network operations.

Commercialization of GiGA LTE, a Pre-5G technology, and leading 5G technology development with global vendors

Following Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu's announcement of PyeongChang Winter Olympics 5G trial service at MWC 2015 in February last year, KT has been leading 5G technology development with global vendors through commercialization of GiGA LTE, a Pre-5G technology, establishment of a 5G R&D Center, and active participation in 5G international standards organizations.

KT also confirmed in January that the core objectives of 5G services to be unveiled in 2018 are maximum speed of 20Gbps, latency of 1ms or less, and connection of over one million devices per square kilometer. The plan is to confirm the 5G system and terminal specifications by June and complete hardware system development and verification by December.

To validate the technology and infrastructure developed to date, KT showcased in real-time immersive 5G services planned to be presented at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics—'Sync View', '360° VR', 'Hologram Live', and '5G Safety'—connected from the Bogwang Snow competition venue, where test events are being held with cooperation from the PyeongChang Olympics Organizing Committee, to Gwanghwamun.

The 'Sync View' service unveiled this time is a service that mounts a mobile communication module on a micro-camera and transmits ultra-high-definition video in real-time through Active Antenna, a 5G-based technology. Through technology that synchronizes different video feeds, viewers can select and watch athlete's-eye-view footage and broadcast coverage, providing vivid imagery as if they were the athlete.

'360° VR' enables viewing of Winter Olympics competition footage in 360 degrees
'Hologram Live' and other services enhancing sense of presence in competition broadcasts

'360° VR' is an immersive service that transmits 360-degree Winter Olympics competition footage in multi-channel live through 5G mmWave Access in real-time. Viewers can watch the competition from any direction and angle they desire, allowing them to feel a sense of presence as if they were in the stands even from home.

'Hologram Live' is an ultra-high-definition remote hologram service transmitted through 5G mmWave backhaul technology, providing a spectacle where an athlete who just finished competing at the Bogwang Snow competition venue is teleported and interviewed in front of viewers' eyes.

The '5G Safety' service is a facial recognition solution linking drones and intelligent systems, transmitting real-time video information captured by drones to safety personnel and control centers through FTTA (Fiber To The Antenna) technology, enabling immediate confirmation and response to subjects not pre-registered or with suspicious behavior detected.

Meanwhile, immersive 5G services such as '360° VR' and 'Sync View' are planned to be showcased at MWC 2016, drawing the attention of people worldwide.

Following the presentation and demonstration, KT's Network Division Senior Vice President Oh Sung-mok stated, "KT will create a flawless 5G Olympics through 5G trial services at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics," and added, "Through the 5G network and services that KT is preparing, viewers of the Olympics around the world will enjoy a more immersive and safe Olympics."

Kim Sang-pyo, Vice Chair of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, who participated in the event, said, "KT is a people's company leading in technology and the most reliable Olympic partner," adding, "We have confirmed the importance of ICT infrastructure at the Olympics and have high expectations for 5G services."

Going forward, KT plans to maintain close collaborative relationships with global telecommunications companies so that 5G technologies showcased at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics can be reflected in international standards, while actively engaging in major international technical organization activities to further solidify KT's position as a global 5G leader.