KT Chairman Hwang Chang-kyu: “Let’s expand 5G technology cooperation between the two companies to the service level”

KT announced on the 3rd the results of its 5G cooperation with U.S. carrier Verizon and stated that it has agreed to continue cooperating on 5G services as well.

At the meeting, the two companies showcased the achievements of their 5G cooperation by successfully demonstrating a holographic video call between Gwanghwamun and New Jersey through global interconnection of 5G networks, and presented a new paradigm for 5G business models to the world.

This was achieved through the joint cooperation between KT and Verizon in the 5G sector since last year. Since February of last year, the two companies have been working together to establish 5G wireless access technology standards that define interoperability between terminals and base stations, such as frequencies and transmission methods. They are expected to complete the establishment of hardware standards soon and discuss standards for the software sector.

The demonstration showed that AI terminals can also be utilized in cooperation for 5G service development, such as KT's AI TV 'GiGA Genie' being used for capturing holographic video. In the U.S., Verizon demonstrated a service close to commercial by using a low-cost, entry-level tablet as the device.

On this day, the global circuit configuration was also successfully achieved through the integration of the two companies' orchestrators (systems that automate the preparation, configuration, and management of virtualized network functions). The configuration of international dedicated lines, which previously took an average of about 10 days to build, was automatically completed in just 10 minutes; this was made possible by Software-Based Infrastructure (SDI) technology, which is considered a core technology of 5G.

This demonstration proved that KT and Verizon's 'software-based infrastructure' technology has reached a significant level. The two companies have defined interoperability specifications between telecommunications operator SDI orchestrators and implemented interoperability functions; going forward, they plan to jointly propose international standards for this interoperability technology and promote the expansion of the ecosystem. According to market research firm SDxCentral, the total NFV/SDN market size in 2020 was approximately 117 trillion won, and significant economic effects are expected to result from the realization of software virtualization technology.

KT and Verizon signed an MOU on future infrastructure and technology cooperation, including 5G, in June 2016, following the meeting of the CEOs of both companies at CES in January 2016, where they exchanged their intention to actively cooperate in the field of future infrastructure, including 5G.

KT Chairman Hwang Chang-kyu said, “Since the commercialization of 5G in 2019 cannot be achieved by the power of a single company or country alone, cooperation among leading companies in the global mobile ecosystem is very important,” adding, “We will continue to cooperate with Verizon for the commercialization of 5G and showcase 5G technologies and services to bring about a new world, going beyond simply improving the network.”