Scheduled for priority application to 55% of the nationwide optical infrastructure at the time of commercialization in September.

KT announced that it is accelerating the nationwide commercialization of 10 GiGA Internet in September of this year by opening an experience space called 'KT 10 GiGA Arena' at the 'AfricaTV Open Studio' located in Songpa-gu, Seoul.

10-gigabit internet not only offers speeds 100 times faster than megabit internet, but can also provide high-quality services such as ultra-high definition (UHD) video services, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR), which require large amounts of bandwidth, more stably than before.

KT will initially apply 10-gigabit internet to 55% of its nationwide optical infrastructure sections at the time of commercialization in September. In addition to the basic 10-gigabit internet speed plan, it plans to launch 5-gigabit and 2.5-gigabit speed plans as well, expanding customer choices by providing a complete 10-gigabit internet service.

KT Gig Internet surpassed 4 million subscribers last January, just 3 years and 3 months after its launch, and in April of this year, Gig Internet subscribers (4.3 million) outnumbered Mega KT Internet subscribers (4.29 million) among all KT internet subscribers.

KT has already been conducting pilot services since 2016 by building 10-gigabit internet infrastructure in some areas, including Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Pyeongchang. Since this year, we have been accelerating preparations for the commercialization of 10-gigabit internet, including selecting and operating a '10-gigabit internet experience group' where customers can directly experience 10-gigabit internet speeds.

In addition, the plan is to participate in the “10 Gigabit Internet Commercialization Promotion Pilot Project” together with the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency (NIA) to ensure full preparation for the commercialization of 10 Gigabit Internet.

Following its investment of 4.9 trillion won in the gigabit internet sector since 2014, KT plans to make aggressive investments of over 500 billion won over the next three years to lead the 10-gigabit internet market, thereby creating jobs and establishing an environment for providing stable 10-gigabit internet services.

In particular, the newly opened '10 Giga Arena' is expected to be a venue where people can be the first to experience KT's 10 Giga Internet commercial service.

KT established the 'KT 10 Giga Arena' within the AfreecaTV Open Studio in Jamsil and converted 10 of the general seats into 10 Giga Internet exclusive seats.

The AfreecaTV Open Studio Jamsil branch is approximately 250 pyeong in size and is equipped with 143 general PC seats and an 80-seat 'Battlegrounds' dedicated arena. It is equipped with broadcasting facilities, observers, and commentary booths capable of broadcasting 'Battlegrounds' and various esports leagues hosted by AfreecaTV, and on days when there are no esports matches, general customers can also experience 10-gigabit internet firsthand.

In the pre-test of 10-gigabit internet, players 'Jayden' Choi Won-pyo and 'Hayanungil' Bae Dae-hyeok from the 'Afreeca Freecs' Battlegrounds team expressed their anticipation for 10-gigabit internet, stating, "With the fast speed of 10-gigabit internet, we were able to play smoothly without lag even when a large number of gamers gathered, and the fast screen transitions allowed for even faster gameplay."

Park Hyun-jin, Senior Vice President and Head of KT’s Wired and Wireless Business Division, said, “In 2014, KT launched the nation’s first gigabit internet that is 10 times faster than the existing one, laying the foundation for the activation of ICT convergence technology based on Korea’s gigabit infrastructure,” adding, “Through the nationwide commercialization of 10-gigabit internet this September, KT will provide the best network infrastructure so that Korea can lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”