KT Launches 'GiGA Smart Farm', Service Offering Up to 40% Reduction in Facility Setup Costs
Establishment of 'Smart Farm Practical Training Center/Field Support Center' Capable of IT Utilization Education for Farmers and On-site Service Dispatch

KT announced the launch of the 'KT GiGA Smart Farm' service, which reduces the cost of building smart farm facilities by up to 40% and significantly improves the control performance of greenhouse facilities.

'KT GiGA Smart Farm' is a solution that analyzes temperature, humidity, solar radiation, CO2, and soil conditions in cultivation facilities using Internet of Things (IoT) devices equipped with sensors, and operates control devices based on the analysis results to create an optimal crop cultivation environment.

According to a public opinion survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in January 2016, the "burden of initial investment and management costs" and "difficulty in using ICT technology" ranked first and second, respectively, as obstacles to the introduction of smart farms, at 53.8% and 16.7%.


To reduce the burden of initial costs for farmers, KT applied a smart farm solution developed in-house by its Convergence Technology Institute and lowered the cost of adopting smart farms by up to 40% compared to existing standards (based on 5-linked vinyl greenhouses*, approximately 0.33 ha).

In addition, the 'Smart Farm Integrated Control Center' monitors farm facilities for any abnormalities 24 hours a day, so you can rest assured even when you are away. It is available for use. Meanwhile, the hacking prevention function for PCs and smartphones, which is pointed out as a vulnerability of IoT products, has been strengthened, and facility control performance has been significantly improved regardless of the greenhouse type by applying 'machine learning-based customized control for each greenhouse.'

In conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' smart farm acceleration measures, KT is opening smart farm training centers and field support centers in 10 major hub regions nationwide to address the difficulties in using ICT technology and after-sales service issues, which are other concerns for farmers adopting smart farms.


▲ Results of a public opinion survey on farmers' perceptions of smart farms (January 2016. Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)

At the smart farm training center, you can receive agricultural education using smart farm equipment in an environment identical to actual farming sites. Agricultural technology centers in five regions—Seoul, Yongin, Damyang, Buyeo, and Seongju—and KT are jointly operating the program, which is scheduled to open in July.

In addition, to resolve usage inconveniences and after-sales service issues for farms that have adopted smart farms, we are operating field support centers capable of dispatching personnel directly to five major production areas nationwide (Yongin, Gimje, Nonsan, Seongju, and Chuncheon), the first of its kind among smart farm solution providers.

Song Jae-ho, Head of Future Business Development (Senior Vice President) at KT’s Future Convergence Business Promotion Office, stated, "We placed the utmost emphasis on listening to farmers' voices and addressing their inconveniences to develop products that provide practical assistance to them," adding, "In the future, we will take the lead in increasing farmers' income by developing solutions that provide optimal cultivation information based on big data."