Establishing a "Joint R&I Center" in Korea for Technology Sharing

SK Telecom and HERE, a global leader in high-precision mapping, have joined hands to drive innovation on roads and in cities.

The two companies announced the signing of a "Strategic Partnership for 5G Autonomous Driving and Smart City Business" at the Las Vegas Convention Center where CES 2018 was held.

HERE is a global leader in high-precision mapping and location services, providing navigation, real-time traffic information, and indoor maps to more than 200 countries worldwide. German automakers Audi, BMW, and Daimler, as well as Intel and Pioneer, hold stakes in HERE. Recently, Bosch and Continental have also expressed interest in participating in HERE's equity.

The two companies will pursue wide-ranging cooperation ranging from joint development of next-generation technologies and services such as HD map solutions for autonomous vehicles and location-based IoT to global business expansion.

To this end, SK Telecom will share core competitiveness and infrastructure including 5G, dedicated IoT networks and services, mobile navigation technology, approximately 7 million dynamic content (landmark and real-time traffic information), and cloud, while HERE will provide HD maps, high-precision positioning solutions, and global distribution channels.

SK Telecom and HERE United by 5G … "5G is the Catalyst for Achieving $50,000 Per Capita Income"

This partnership was realized as both companies share the goal that combining each other's infrastructure and strengths can accelerate the construction of "future cities" centered on 5G, autonomous driving, and IoT.

In particular, both companies recognize that 5G is key to advancing joint business initiatives. This is because the ultra-high-speed, ultra-low-latency, and hyper-connectivity characteristics of 5G can revolutionize the location-based IoT field. This is also why HERE reached out to SK Telecom. SK Telecom is HERE's first telecommunications company partner.

SK Telecom has secured a powerful ally capable of pioneering differentiated 5G services. SK Telecom is confident that early 5G commercialization will serve as a catalyst for achieving $50,000 per capita income. According to market research firm IHS Markit, 5G is expected to create approximately 1,837 trillion won in added value in the smart city (public projects) and transportation sectors alone by 2035.

Real-Time Updated "HD Maps for Autonomous Driving"

Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly construct HD maps (high-precision maps) on major domestic roads including the Gyeongbu Expressway from the first half of the year.

They plan to focus on developing a live update solution for "HD maps" that are updated in real-time by incorporating 5G, which features ultra-low latency with a response time of 0.001 seconds. This solution works by survey vehicles (map-making vehicles) or vehicles equipped with the relevant technology uploading changes in surrounding objects to the cloud in real-time and transmitting them to other users.

The two companies plan to supply differentiated "HD maps" and live update solutions to location-based service companies and automakers.

Unlike conventional digital maps (SD maps), "HD maps" contain detailed lane information, precise positioning information down to the centimeter level, and surrounding objects such as traffic lights and guardrails. Just as semiconductors have driven innovation in electronic devices, "HD maps" are essential foundational technology for popularizing autonomous vehicles and connected cars.

Autonomous vehicles utilize HD maps when determining real-time driving routes. Navigation, O2O, and vehicle-sharing services can also provide enhanced convenience through HD maps. For example, by combining navigation and HD maps, it is possible to distinguish between left-turn and straight lanes and provide real-time traffic information.

Advancing New "Smart City" Businesses Including Vehicle Management, IoT Tracking, and Public Transportation Management

The two companies will also jointly pursue smart city business. SK Telecom is providing various smart city services including vehicle management, elderly care for the isolated, and energy-saving solutions in Seoul, Busan, and other cities by leveraging IoT dedicated networks and location-based technology. HERE supplies navigation maps to a cumulative 100 million vehicles worldwide and is pursuing IoT location-based service business based on its proprietary Open Location Platform.

The two companies plan to jointly develop next-generation location-based smart city services including logistics, usage-based insurance, public transportation management, indoor positioning, and vehicle sharing.

Establishing a "Joint R&I Center" in Korea for Technology and Infrastructure Sharing

The two companies will establish a "Joint R&I Center (Research & Innovation)" in Korea to accelerate cooperation. Both companies plan to use this facility as a bridgehead for sharing technologies and infrastructure and jointly developing innovative services.

Furthermore, the companies will not limit business scope to Korea but will expand business areas by utilizing HERE's global sales network in more than 200 countries. In particular, the two companies plan to prioritize Southeast Asia, where interest in smart cities is growing, as a region for global business promotion.

SK Telecom President Park Jung-ho said, "In the 5G era where the offline world itself becomes wireless, the telematics and connected car sectors will be the first to face 5G innovation and transformation. Together with HERE, a global leader in map solutions, we will drive change on roads and in cities."

HERE CEO Ezad Oberwick said, "In the future autonomous driving era centered on 5G and location-based services, SK Telecom and HERE can play a key role in establishing the infrastructure for autonomous driving. Through cooperation between the two companies, we will be able to provide innovative in-vehicle services to autonomous vehicle passengers at home and abroad."