SK Telecom Accelerates Early 5G Commercialization
Published2018.01.23 10:12RFP Dispatch Launches Full-Scale Securing of Global 5G Standard-Based Telecommunications Equipment
SK Telecom is gathering its capabilities to secure the lead in the global 5G competition and commercialize it.
SK Telecom announced that it has launched a '5G company-wide Task Force' and sent out a second Request for Proposal (RFP) to develop commercial telecommunications equipment based on global standards.
The TF is composed of approximately 200 people across the entire company, including SK Telecom's four major business divisions—MNO, Media, IoT/Data, and Service Platform—and the ICT Infrastructure Center-Technology Institute.
In particular, SK Telecom is focusing on proactively developing next-generation 5G services that will provide greater benefits to customers by deploying a large number of personnel related to next-generation services, such as autonomous driving, AI, and IoT, to the TF.
SK Telecom shares and combines the strengths and ideas of its business divisions to further develop existing services and discover 5G services that customers have not yet imagined.
The '5G Company-wide Task Force' operates with the goal of early 5G commercialization as well as the development of new business models. To achieve early 5G commercialization, it focuses on everything from developing equipment based on global 5G standards to network construction and technical collaboration with partners. SK Telecom continues the world-class network competitiveness it has led from CDMA to LTE.
In addition, TF develops various innovative 5G business models that customers can experience, such as 5G-based autonomous vehicles, smart cities, AI, media, and IoT, in addition to mobile communications.
In addition, SK Telecom has sent out a second RFP to accelerate the introduction of telecommunications equipment based on the 3GPP (Global Mobile Communications Standardization Cooperation Organization) global 5G standards. By sending out the second RFP following the announcement of the first 5G standard by 3GPP last year, SK Telecom plans to select partners early to jointly develop commercial equipment.
The 5G RFP is a document that summarizes the requirements for the 5G commercial system envisioned by SK Telecom. In the second RFP, SK Telecom included detailed technical specifications and business requirements for commercial equipment based on 3GPP 5G standards.
SK Telecom plans to engage in concrete discussions regarding the construction of a 5G commercial network with partners selected through the second RFP. In parallel, it will also pursue global standardization activities to ensure that the 5G technologies discussed with partners are reflected in 3GPP standards.
Seo Seong-won, Head of SK Telecom’s 5G Task Force, stated, “We have launched a large-scale 5G task force that brings together the entire company’s capabilities to lead 5G, which drives the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” adding, “Through continuous innovation, we will take the lead not only in developing 5G services that customers can experience but also in ensuring that Korea secures 5G leadership.”
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