Samsung Electronics Surprises VR Technology Event with 'Gear VR' Unpacked
LG Electronics unveils flagship smartphone 'G5', while KT and SKT focus on 5G technology

With a total of over 2,000 participating companies, the largest Mobile World Congress in history (MWC 2016) has begun.

Reflecting the increasingly heated IoT (Internet of Things) trend this year, MWC 2016, a global mobile exhibition, featured a large number of products related to 5G, VR (Virtual Reality), and smart cars. What products and technologies did Korea's leading mobile and telecommunications companies showcase at MWC 2016, which serves as a gauge for future IT technology trends?

First, Samsung Electronics unveiled an Unpacked event utilizing the virtual reality device 'Gear VR' and a new MWC exhibition layout at this exhibition. Under the theme 'Beyond Barriers,' this Unpacked event presented a new presentation that transcended temporal and spatial limitations, delivering a new experience to people around the world through a 360-degree real-time video broadcast of the event.

Samsung Electronics operates a 'VR 4D Theater' where visitors can experience 360-degree stereoscopic video using 'Gear VR' and a 4D chair, and runs an exhibition space that displays Samsung Electronics' representative mobile devices to show the history of telecommunications development and the Galaxy brand story at a glance.

Samsung Electronics is also continuing to strengthen its mobile B2B market through a separate exhibition at this MWC. At the B2B exhibition, Samsung Electronics introduced the security and usability of its mobile security platform Knox, and also unveiled its mobile payment service 'Samsung Pay' and various partner solutions.

At this MWC, Samsung Electronics unveiled not only new mobile products but also a wide range of new network and memory technologies. The Network Business Division introduced various technologies, including high-performance, miniaturized base station equipment, an LTE-based Public Safety LTE (PS-LTE) solution utilizing eMBMS, a Mission Critical IoT solution guaranteeing the highest level of network stability, and wireless LAN APs for IoT.

In addition, it unveiled the world's first 5G mmWave hand-over technology and showcased leadership in next-generation mobile communication technologies, such as MPTCP (Multi Path Transmission Control Protocol) technology, which can freely combine different communication technologies. In the semiconductor sector, it exhibited new products including the world's first mass-produced 20nm 12Gb LPDDR4-based '6GB mobile DRAM' and the high-performance one-chip solution 'Exynos 8 Octa (8890)' based on the 14nm second-generation process.

LG Electronics Unveils Strategic Smartphone 'G5'
Nano-coated fiber Stylus 2 unveiled

LG Electronics captures the world's attention at MWC 2016 with its flagship smartphone, the 'LG G5'. This is the first time LG Electronics is unveiling a strategic smartphone at MWC.

LG Electronics exhibited a total of 13 types and over 350 products, including the flagship smartphone 'G5', the budget smartphone 'X Series', and 'Stylus 2'.

The exhibition space is based on the concept of a 'Playground' completed through visitor participation. LG Electronics organized a circular circulation path centered around the 'G5' and ensured that structures highlighting curved aesthetics blend naturally.

LG Electronics is also introducing the 'X Series,' an entry-level smartphone lineup featuring premium functions, and the pen-type smartphone 'Stylus 2.' The X Series consists of two models: the 'X Cam,' equipped with a dual camera, and the 'X Screen,' featuring a secondary screen. Despite being an entry-level model, the 'X Cam' features a dual rear camera system with a 120-degree wide-angle lens and an 80-degree standard-angle lens. Users can utilize the product's 120-degree wide-angle camera to capture a wider area in photos from the same distance.

The 'Stylus 2' features a thin stylus nib made of nano-coated fiber material instead of the conventional rubber, providing the feel of writing with a real pen. In particular, it adds an analog sensibility by setting the 'Calligraphy Pen Type,' which offers the writing feel of a fountain pen, as the default font. It is also characterized by providing various UX that supports premium handwriting functions.

The 'Tone Plus (HBS-1100)' is a Bluetooth headset that has earned 'Harman Kardon Platinum,' the highest sound grade from Harman Kardon. This product is the world's first Bluetooth headset to adopt the 'Qualcomm aptX HD' audio codec, enabling it to wirelessly receive 24-bit Hi-Fi audio without loss. The 'Rolly Keyboard,' a four-fold foldable Bluetooth keyboard, will also be on display. This product is highly portable as it can be folded into four sections like a rolled-up scroll, transforming into a 2.5cm thick rod shape using magnetic force.

KT Unveils World's First 5G Technology
Boasting speeds more than 80 times faster than existing LTE-A

KT exhibited and demonstrated 5G technology to be showcased at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics under the theme of 'Global 5G Leader Korea Telecom'.

At the 2016 MWC, models and videos were exhibited to build a perfect 5G infrastructure for land, sea, air, and space to be showcased at the PyeongChang Olympics (5G base station), and Millimeter Wave (mmWave), FTTA, and MEC, which are 5G transmission and structural technologies to be applied for the first time in the world to the PyeongChang Olympics 5G pilot service, were presented.

Because the mmWave band can utilize a wider frequency bandwidth than LTE, it is a frequency that must be utilized to provide the 20Gbps transmission speed, which is a 5G requirement presented by the ITU in 2015. KT showcased technology development achievements with various global manufacturers, including a live wireless transmission demonstration video at 25Gbps speed and 5G cell design results in the Pyeongchang region, which are being pursued to build a 5G pilot service network in 2018.

FTTA (Fiber to the antenna) is a core technology for next-generation 5G base stations that dramatically reduces base station backhaul traffic to less than one-tenth of the existing level. KT plans to utilize this to evolve its access network into a wired-wireless integrated structure that simultaneously transmits wired traffic, such as Giga Internet and Giga Wi-Fi, and 5G wireless traffic. Technical verification was completed on a commercial network last September, and at this MWC, the company demonstrated the world's first HD high-definition video conference using FTTA technology.

In addition, KT is actively conducting research on a next-generation wireless network architecture that deploys core network functions forward to provide the ultra-low latency, high reliability, and high-quality services required for 5G. Based on these development achievements, the company unveiled the world's first ultra-low latency eMBMS technology based on Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) last October. At this MWC, it introduced a 5G Live Broadcasting service that allows users to experience vivid video from the athletes' perspectives and live video from within the venue on their smartphones with ultra-low latency.

SK Telecom Starts Up 'Connected Car' Future Growth Engine
Tablet-type infotainment system jointly developed with Renault Samsung Motors

A connected car, one of SK Telecom's future growth engines, drove up Montjuic Hill in Barcelona.

SK Telecom displayed 'T2C,' a connected car solution that converges automotive and IT technologies, outside the exhibition hall and conducted a test drive event for MWC visitors.

SK Telecom's 'T2C (Tablet to Car)' is a tablet-type infotainment system jointly developed with Renault Samsung Motors. Through T2C, customers can receive real-time traffic information, music streaming, rear camera footage, and weather information while driving, use phone functions via Bluetooth connection with a smartphone, and use it like a conventional tablet outside the vehicle.

SK Telecom announced that it has unveiled globally customized solutions for T2C, such as integrating Google Maps and global music streaming services, and plans to assess the potential for T2C's entry into overseas markets at this MWC.

"Connected cars" are a global trend and are already attracting attention as a growth engine for domestic and international automakers and IT companies. SK Telecom is also cultivating connected cars as a future growth engine, having predicted the growth of the connected car market in advance and prepared related technologies several years ago.

Kwon Song, Head of the IoT Solution Division at SK Telecom, stated, “We expect to confirm the high level of interest in connected cars among visitors from around the world through this MWC,” adding, “We plan to actively pursue expansion into the global market by continuously developing in-vehicle infotainment services with leading domestic and international automakers.”