Providing IoT network coverage with LoRa networks suitable for low-power, low-capacity data transmission

SK Telecom announced that it has upgraded its existing 'Hybrid IoT Network' by revealing plans to complete the construction of 'LTE Cat.M1,' another nationwide IoT network following the 'LoRa' network, and to commercialize it in April.

'LTE Cat.M1' is a technology standardized by the international standardization organization 3GPP, characterized by its ability to transmit low-capacity video and HD-quality photos and voice. With this commercialization, SK Telecom is now able to provide complete IoT network coverage in conjunction with the 'LoRa' network, which is suitable for low-power, low-capacity data transmission.

The power efficiency of 'LTE Cat.M1' is tens of times higher than that of the existing 'LTE-M', and the price of communication modules is more than 30% cheaper. From the perspective of manufacturers, this is expected to lower the production costs of IoT devices and reduce the price burden on customers. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the IoT ecosystem will be revitalized as it becomes easier for various manufacturers to enter the market.

SK Telecom also unveiled an 'LTE Cat.M1'-based 'dashcam modem' and 'blood glucose monitor' on the same day, which will be showcased at MWC 2018. By utilizing 'LTE Cat.M1', video recorded by a dashcam in a parked vehicle can be viewed in real-time on a mobile device, and integrated healthcare services can also be provided. These services had difficulty utilizing LTE networks due to low power efficiency and high communication module prices, but the commercialization of 'LTE Cat.M1' has made service development easier.

SK Telecom completed the development and test network verification of 'LTE Cat.M1' technology in 2017 and has been striving to advance the technology by applying it to commercial LTE base stations and conducting field tests. SK Telecom plans to launch 'LTE Cat.M1' starting in April after completing network stabilization and optimization in March.

In the upcoming 5G era, the convergence of offline and mobile, such as autonomous driving and smart cities, is expected to increase explosively. SK Telecom predicted that the nationwide rollout of 'LTE Cat.M1' will serve as an important bridgehead for the 5G era, and that the emergence of 'LTE Cat.M1' will change the landscape of the IoT industry.

'LTE Cat.M1' Unveiled at MWC 2018

SK Telecom will showcase an 'IoT black box' and a 'blood glucose monitor' utilizing 'LTE Cat.M1' at MWC 2018.

In particular, power usage efficiency is important for vehicle dashcams as they can affect battery discharge. For this reason, it was previously difficult to incorporate communication modules for providing real-time information, but the commercialization of 'LTE Cat.M1' has made such services possible.

SK Telecom plans to launch an 'IoT Black Box' service in April in partnership with domestic telecommunications equipment manufacturer Contella, which provides accident notification and video transmission, vehicle theft detection, and battery discharge protection alerts.

The blood glucose monitoring service will also be upgraded. Since existing blood glucose meters are not always connected online, it was difficult to respond immediately to changes in the customer's situation. However, by utilizing 'LTE Cat.M1,' not only can real-time data of measurement results be accumulated, but continuous and periodic monitoring of measurement values can also be performed, enabling more efficient management of chronic diseases.

Establishing a nationwide IoT network using a hybrid network combining 'LTE Cat.M1' and ' LoRa'

SK Telecom completed the nationwide rollout of its LoRa network, a dedicated IoT network, in July 2016 and introduced a hybrid nationwide IoT network together with the 'LTE-M (LTE Cat.1)' network that was previously established in March 2016.

SK Telecom plans to utilize 'LTE Cat.M1' and 'LTE-M' for services requiring the transmission of video and photo data, and the 'LoRa' network for low-capacity, low-speed IoT services that require simple monitoring and control. Through this, it is expected that various products capable of enhancing work efficiency in industrial sectors and the convenience of daily life for the public will continue to be introduced.

SK Telecom is leading the revitalization of the domestic IoT ecosystem by developing over 150 IoT services with more than 1,200 domestic partner companies to date. In March 2017, it also opened the 'SK Telecom IoT Open House' to support ventures and startups in the IoT sector in developing and commercializing technologies and products.

“As the only company in Korea possessing a nationwide multi-IoT network, SK Telecom is accelerating the development of various IoT technologies and services for the hyper-connected era,” said Heo Il-gyu, Head of the IoT/Data Business Division at SK Telecom. “Through collaboration with various IoT partners, we will not only revitalize the IoT ecosystem but also lead the industry.”