MOU signed for early 5G implementation including 5G technology development and global 5G standardization activities

KT has agreed with Verizon, North America's largest wireless carrier, to establish 5G radio access technology specifications. Based on this agreement, the goal is to lead global standardization and accelerate the 5G era.

KT (Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu) and Verizon (CEO Lowell C. McAdam) announced on the 24th (local time) at Verizon's headquarters in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, that they have signed a "Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on future infrastructure and technology cooperation including 5G mobile communications," with KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam, and key executives from both companies in attendance.

KT was the first in the world to complete 5G radio access technology specifications, and after discussing joint radio access technology standards with Verizon from February onwards, signed this MOU. Radio access technology specifications are core standards that define interoperability between terminals and base stations, including frequency and transmission methods, and represent the most critical component of mobile communication system standardization.

The agreement by KT and Verizon to establish joint 5G radio access technology specifications marks the first time detailed specifications satisfying technical requirements have been prepared since global 5G standardization discussions began, and is expected to accelerate future 5G global standardization efforts by completing the foundation for development of 5G terminals and systems.

As of end of 2015, Verizon is America's No. 1 telecom operator with annual revenues of $131.6 billion (approximately 154 trillion won in Korean currency), 112 million wireless subscribers, approximately 18.4 million wireline telephone subscribers, and 9.3 million broadband subscribers. Following the establishment of America's first 4G LTE network in 2010, it set a goal for 5G commercialization in 2017 and began testing 5G technology from 2015. In particular, Verizon is highly interested in the millimeter-wave band transmission technology that KT is developing targeting the PyeongChang Olympics 5G pilot project, and in January, the CEOs of both companies met at CES to exchange intentions for active cooperation in 5G technology and future infrastructure technology fields.

In addition to 5G wireless technology cooperation, the MOU also includes cooperation on 'SDN/NFV' technology, the next-generation network technology, as well as Verizon's joint field trial application of KT's GiGA Wire in North America. KT's GiGA solution technology, already supplied to Turkey and Spain, is receiving attention from global telecom operators, and particularly in countries with large territories like the United States, the GiGA Wire technology that provides GiGA-level speeds using existing copper wire and coaxial cables is expected to greatly assist in improving network quality when deployed.