Trial runs begin on the 20th, and operation is scheduled to start next November.
Wireless communication between the control center and the train is important for driverless light rail.

SK Telecom announced that it will begin train trial operations starting on the 20th by establishing the next-generation railway communication standard 'Railway Integrated Wireless Network (hereinafter LTE-R)' in the main line section of the Gimpo Urban Railway together with the Korea Rail Network Authority.

The two companies plan to start operating the Gimpo Urban Railway in November 2018 after verifying the stability of LTE-R through annual test runs of the train.

The Gimpo Urban Railway is an unmanned light rail system that operates without a driver. This marks the first time LTE-R has been applied to an unmanned light rail line. For unmanned light rail systems, the reliability and stability of wireless communication between the control center and the train are paramount.

SK Telecom collaborated with small but strong domestic companies such as S-Traffic and Mobigen to build an LTE-R communication network on the 23.67 km main line section of the Gimpo Urban Railway using purely domestic technology and equipment. In particular, it also directly developed auxiliary equipment solutions, such as on-board devices and mobile terminals, for transmitting and receiving information between the train and the ground.

Through this, the train control center can check train operation information, make remote announcements inside the train, and conduct emergency calls. In addition, in the event of an emergency, the control center can view real-time video footage from the accident train, enabling rapid identification of the cause and a systematic response.

While existing railway radio communication only allowed voice calls and radio communication between personnel, the LTE-R network enables control centers, station staff, and rescue personnel to simultaneously exchange information in various ways, such as real-time transmission of video inside the train, group calls, and text messages.


SK Telecom deployed the world's first LTE-R on Busan Metro Line 1 last February. Based on the know-how gained from deploying LTE-R on Busan Metro Line 1 and the Gimpo Metro, SK Telecom plans to aggressively target the domestic and international LTE-R markets in partnership with small but strong domestic companies.

Sim Sang-soo, Head of the Infrastructure Business Division at SK Telecom, stated, “Following the Busan Metro, we have successfully established a stable LTE-R-based railway communication network for the Gimpo Metro, an unmanned light rail system,” adding, “Moving forward, we will actively pursue expansion into both domestic and overseas markets in partnership with small but strong Korean companies to lead the railway wireless communication industry.”