Hosting the LoRa International World Congress for the first time in Asia, leading global IoT roaming standards
Demonstration of LoRa roaming technology and introduction of various nationwide network-based services at the International IoT Exhibition

Dedicated IoT network services, which previously had regional limitations, are evolving into global services as technological development accelerates.

SK Telecom is taking active steps as a leading operator in the IoT industry, such as proposing IoT roaming technology standards to global operators and hosting the World Congress of the LoRa Alliance, an IoT dedicated network alliance.

LoRa is a proper noun named after the abbreviation of 'Long Range', and unlike 3G or LTE, it is a representative technology for IoT dedicated networks that features extensive coverage, low bandwidth, long battery life, and low power consumption.

SK Telecom, a leading operator that has commercialized the LoRa network, a dedicated IoT network, on a nationwide basis, has prioritized the development of international roaming technology essential for the simultaneous application of LoRa technology across countries, and will demonstrate the technology to domestic and international operators during this general meeting.

In addition, it is expected to contribute significantly to the international expansion of LoRa services by introducing the know-how of nationwide network commercialization and the current status of technology and service development to global operators.

SK Telecom is also participating in the '2016 Internet of Things Promotion Week (IoT Week 2016, 10/10~0/14)' organized by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, held under the theme 'Intelligent Information and Communication Society and the 4th Industrial Revolution, From IoT!' In particular, as the chair company of the Korea Internet of Things Association, the organizing body for the event, SK Telecom plans to play a leading role in the overall event, including participation in the international IoT exhibition and conference, and IoT solution presentations.

Leading IoT standardization and providing a platform for technology and industry exchange among global companies

SK Telecom will host the 6th World Congress of the LoRa International Alliance for three days (October 11–13) at the Sheraton Seoul Palace Gangnam Hotel, marking the first time this has been held in Asia. Under the theme "Enabling Things To Have A Global Voice," the congress will feature main sessions sharing the status of the LoRa network deployment, which SK Telecom commercialized nationwide in late June, as well as the development status of products and services, showcasing Korea's advanced IoT technology to member companies around the world.

In addition, to revitalize the global ecosystem of dedicated IoT networks, we plan to discuss standards for LoRa networks and related technologies, such as roaming, and to consult and decide on agendas related to global marketing, strategy, and security.

In particular, at this general meeting, SK Telecom announced a standardization plan for global roaming technology and plans to apply it as a LoRa standard. Furthermore, it plans to take a leading role in developing global IoT solutions by discussing measures for the commercialization of roaming technology with global operators in the future.

SK Telecom will demonstrate this technology at the IoT Week international exhibition held at COEX. The plan is to virtually demonstrate the real-time verification of a suitcase equipped with a location tracking device departing from COEX in Seoul and arriving in Grenoble, France; this is expected to serve as an important foundational technology that enables dedicated IoT network services to be interconnected internationally.

When global roaming technology is commercialized, it is expected to contribute significantly to the revitalization of related industries by making it easy to verify whether lost valuable goods have been taken overseas, track them domestically and internationally, and manage the movement status of containers used in international logistics, based on the characteristics of LoRa networks such as low power consumption, broadband coverage, and low usage fees.


<Reference> LoRa Network Roaming Concept Diagram

At the Sheraton Gangnam, where the LoRa General Assembly is being held, LoRa network equipment that has been successfully localized based on LoRa technology will also be on display. Wireless network quality measurement equipment that measures and analyzes the wireless quality of LoRa services, and equipment that designs and optimizes LoRa networks based on terrain information, have been introduced to LoRa member companies and are expected to provide practical assistance to global companies preparing for the commercialization of LoRa networks.

The general assembly is a venue for cooperation that provides a new stimulus to the domestic IoT market and enables the export of domestic solutions, with the participation of over 300 global IoT business operators, including equipment/solution vendors such as Cisco, IBM, and Semtech, as well as telecommunications companies such as Orange, KPN, and Swisscom, to exchange IoT-related technologies and explore applicable business opportunities in each country.

LoRa is one of the most representative dedicated network technology standards, with over 400 member companies registered as of October. Nationwide network construction has been announced in 17 countries, including Korea, and regional networks have been established in 150 cities worldwide, preparing for various lifestyle services.