A solution applied to wired transmission networks connecting antennas and neighborhood-level integrated base stations
Operates without power, expected to improve quality in island and mountainous areas

SK Telecom announced that it plans to sign strategic partnerships with Nokia, Cisco, and others at MWC 2018 to enter the global market for '5G-PON' solutions, one of the core technologies of 5G.

'5G-PON (5G-Passive Optical Network)' is a solution applied to the wired transmission network (fronthaul) section connecting building-level base stations (RU), such as antennas and repeaters, with neighborhood-level integrated base stations (DU).

In mobile communications, data is transmitted through multiple segments. First, when a user's terminal signal is transmitted to an antenna or repeater, the antenna transmits this signal via a wired transmission network to an integrated base station at the neighborhood level. The neighborhood-level integrated base station then forwards this signal to other users through switches and other equipment.

If we liken the section between the building-level base station and the neighborhood-level integrated base station where the '5G-PON' solution is applied to the human body, it can be said to correspond to the capillaries that supply blood to every corner of the body.

In particular, the 5G era requires not only the construction of denser base stations compared to LTE but also an increase in the data capacity that must be accommodated. Accordingly, the importance of fronthaul, which receives wireless data signals at customer touchpoints and transmits them to integrated base stations at the neighborhood level, is being highlighted.

Since 2015, SK Telecom has collaborated with small but strong domestic companies to develop a '5G-PON' solution capable of integrating 3G, LTE, and 5G, and has been proactively applying it to its own telecommunications network since November of last year.

SK Telecom stated, “We plan to sign partnerships for the global market entry of '5G-PON' with global telecommunications equipment companies, including Nokia and Cisco, at MWC 2018,” adding, “We plan to strengthen cooperation so that SK Telecom’s 5G technology can be applied to overseas telecommunications networks.”

The application of the '5G-PON' solution is expected to improve service quality in island and mountainous regions. While existing wired transmission network equipment must be installed inside buildings for power supply, '5G-PON' operates without external power, making outdoor installation easy.

Based on these advantages, wireless stations can be installed densely even in islands and mountainous areas where buildings are sparse, and quality can be improved through transmission network optimization.

In addition, the inconvenience of having to build a separate dedicated wired network from the existing front-haul network whenever new networks such as high-speed internet, 3G, and LTE are built is also resolved, and the rapid spread of the new infrastructure is expected. By applying the '5G-PON' solution, it is possible to provide LTE, high-speed internet, and even 5G services using a single transmission network, eliminating the need to build a separate wired network when 5G is commercialized.

SK Telecom predicted that, thanks to the technical convenience of '5G-PON', the time required to build a 5G network could be shortened by about 20% compared to an LTE network.

Meanwhile, this MOU is expected to accelerate the overseas expansion of small but strong domestic companies possessing 5G technologies, such as optical communication. Domestic telecommunications equipment giants including Solid, HFR, and Cowiver participated in the development of the '5G-PON' solution.

SK Telecom plans to strengthen South Korea's 5G network leadership by building an ICT alliance with small but strong domestic companies.

SK Telecom and HFR exported RingMUX, an LTE-dedicated fronthaul solution, to Verizon in 2016. In addition, SK Telecom is pursuing overseas expansion based on its excellent network technology capabilities, such as signing an export contract for AI network solutions with India's Bharti last September by forming an ICT alliance with small but strong Korean companies.

Kang Jong-ryeol, Head of SK Telecom’s ICT Infrastructure Center, stated, “We are committed to securing innovative network technologies to provide customers with the most stable 5G communication,” adding, “We will partner with small but strong domestic companies to showcase the world’s most advanced 5G.”