Utilizing 802.11ax-based technology, a standard specification

SK Telecom announced that it has developed next-generation Wi-Fi technology and APs with a maximum speed of 4.8Gbps and successfully demonstrated them at its Bundang headquarters.

The next-generation Wi-Fi technology developed by SK Telecom utilizes 802.11ax-based technology, a standard set by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), to provide speeds of up to 4.8Gbps. This is approximately four times faster than 'Giga Wi-Fi' (1.3Gbps, 802.11ac standard), which is currently widely used in smartphones.

'Next-generation Wi-Fi' transmits and receives radio waves using four antennas, and its usable frequency bandwidth is 160 MHz, which is twice that of Giga Wi-Fi. It utilizes the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands.

In addition, once next-generation Wi-Fi is commercialized, more stable wireless Wi-Fi services will be possible even in environments with high traffic density. SK Telecom has enhanced the efficiency of next-generation Wi-Fi by applying technologies such as simultaneous data transmission to multiple users (OFDMA, MU-MIMO) and Wi-Fi performance improvement in congested AP areas (DSC).

As global manufacturers have already released 802.11ax-based chipsets, next-generation Wi-Fi is expected to be commercialized in smartphones as early as next year. Smartphones equipped with this chipset are expected to achieve a maximum speed of 1.2Gbps, taking into account the number of antennas (2) and the bandwidth (80Mhz).

SK Telecom plans to deploy next-generation Wi-Fi access points (APs) primarily in high-traffic areas. Customers will be able to use the service upon the release of devices equipped with chipsets that support next-generation Wi-Fi.

SK Telecom has established a testbed at 'T Open Lab,' a specialized R&D space within its Bundang headquarters, to conduct performance tests in various usage environments, including situations involving Wi-Fi interference. The company plans to upgrade its currently developed access points (APs) to produce commercial-grade APs by the end of this year.

Since 2014, SK Telecom has participated in the IEEE 802.11ax standardization work by conducting national R&D projects led by the Ministry of Science and ICT together with domestic small and medium-sized enterprises. Through this, it has incorporated numerous core technologies into international standards and secured domestic and international patents.

Park Jin-hyo, Head of the Network Technology Institute at SK Telecom, stated, “By developing next-generation Wi-Fi technology capable of 5G-level speeds for the first time in Korea, we have established a foundation to significantly enhance the convenience of mobile usage for our customers.” He added, “In the future, we will not only provide commercial services but also continue to develop innovative technologies to offer differentiated services to our customers.”