Three telecom companies transmit 5G commercial signals on December 1st
First customers are industrial sectors, building 5G ecosystem
Ultra-high speed-Ultra-connectivity-Ultra-low latency era requires significant responsibility


On December 1st, the three domestic mobile carriers simultaneously commenced 5G commercialization. At the first 5G signal transmission ceremony of the three companies, key executives from each company participated to reflect on their efforts thus far and reaffirm their future aspirations.


SK Telecom emphasizes "healthy tension" in response to 5G era
SK Telecom's 5G commercial signal transmission spread nationwide through the network at midnight on the 1st, reaching 13 regions across the country including Seoul, six metropolitan cities, Seongnam, Ansan, Hwaseong, Siheung in Gyeonggi Province, Seogwipo in Jeju Island, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo (Ulleung County).

At the same time, at the 5G commercialization commemoration event held at SK Telecom's Network Management Center located in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, SK Telecom President Park Jeong-ho stated, "Let us maintain healthy tension so that we can provide 5G without even a moment's wavering."

SK Telecom's first 5G call was made between President Park Jeong-ho at the Bundang Network Management Center in Seongnam and Manager Park Suk-hee at SK Telecom's headquarters in Myeongdong, Seoul. The call utilized Samsung Electronics' 5G smartphone prototype.

President Park stated, "I am deeply moved to experience video calling for the first time through a 5G smartphone," and noted that "the quality was significantly clearer and response speed faster compared to LTE."

Subsequently, the Network Management Center successfully completed 5G calls between Busan's Haeundae, Daejeon's Dunsandong, and Gwangju's Gumnnamro.


SK Telecom builds 5G ecosystem starting with Myunghwa Industrial
Myunghwa Industrial located in Ansan's Banwol Industrial Complex, SK Telecom's first 5G customer, launched the '5G-AI machine vision' solution on the morning of the 1st.

This solution takes 24 photos from multiple angles using a 12-megapixel camera as auto parts pass along a conveyor belt, then transmits them via 5G to a cloud server. The server's AI instantaneously interprets the photos to check whether the product has defects.

Myunghwa Industrial Director Lee Kyung-yoon stated, "We had many concerns about transmitting large-capacity photos during the quality inspection process, but we found the answer in 5G."

SK Telecom's 5G autonomous vehicles have begun test operations at the Gyeonggi Hwaseong autonomous driving test city 'K-City' and general roads in Siheung. The vehicles exchanged information with the control center, traffic lights, and surrounding areas tens of times per second via 5G.

SK Telecom opened a '5G Global Innovation Center' in 2015 for joint development of 5G technology, and recently established the '5G Device Test Lab' in Bundang, providing high-cost test equipment to small terminal manufacturers, with plans to expand the 5G and AI ecosystem in earnest.

SK Telecom plans to strengthen co-prosperity cooperation in security, media, and IoT domains linked with 5G and AI, and explore global joint ventures.

President Park Jeong-ho revealed future plans, stating, "We will focus on expanding the convergence ecosystem of 5G and AI and creating social value."


KT prioritizes adding 5G networks to areas with concentrated traffic
KT also held a commemoration event for the first 5G commercial signal transmission at midnight on the 1st at its network control center in Gwacheon, with key executives in attendance.

KT announced that by November, as the first phase of 5G infrastructure construction, it had built a 5G commercial network covering major high-traffic areas in the metropolitan area and six major cities nationwide, as well as island areas including Jeju Island, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo.

Simultaneously, it transmitted 5G signals in the 3.5GHz 100MHz band and opened the 5G commercial network. Additionally, KT plans to prioritize 5G network construction in 24 major cities nationwide, as well as key transportation routes such as highways, subways, and KTX, along with universities and surrounding commercial areas where initial traffic concentration is anticipated.

In constructing the nationwide 5G network, KT provides ultra-low latency 5G network through building a full mesh IP backbone network and edge communication centers based on CUPS (Control & User Plane Separation) 5G core equipment.

The 5G MHS (Mobile Hot Spot) terminal, unveiled for the first time in 5G service, can be subscribed to at 49,500 won/10GB, the dedicated rate plan, and the same rate plan will apply to first subscriber 'Rota'.

KT Network Division President Oh Sung-mok stated, "With this 5G signal transmission, the full-fledged 5G era has begun," and added, "KT will establish 5G network coverage spanning urban areas as well as remote islands and mountainous regions, and strive to provide high-quality 5G services to customers through continuous network differentiation technology development."


Why KT's first 5G customer is a robot, not a person
At the same time, KT announced that KT's first 5G customer was born at the Seoul Sky observation deck of Lotte World Tower in Jamsil simultaneously with the 5G commercial signal transmission. KT's first 5G customer is the AI robot 'Rota'.

KT explained that selecting Rota as the first 5G customer carries the meaning that 5G will become a platform that revolutionizes everyday life and entire industries, not merely a generational shift in mobile communications.

Beginning with this first machine subscriber, KT plans to expand into new domains with second and third machine subscribers and B2B pilot subscribers.


LG U+ to expand from 4,100 5G base stations to 7,000
LG U+ Vice Chairman Ha Hyun-hoe attended the first 5G commercial signal transmission event at the company headquarters in Magok, Seoul at midnight on the 1st with key executives. Vice Chairman Ha demonstrated confidence in leading the new 5G era through the lighting ceremony for the first 5G commercial signal transmission and flag-planting ceremony.

During the event, the stability of commercial network service was verified by placing a video call from the Daejeon Technology Institute to the Magok headquarters using the 5G network. Vice Chairman Ha participated in the demonstration directly. The video call was conducted by transmitting 5G video data from a laptop connected to a Samsung 5G mobile hotspot in Daejeon to the Magok headquarters in Seoul, connecting each other's screens.

Vice Chairman Ha instructed employees, "Until full-scale terminals are launched in March next year, focus on expanding 5G coverage and exercise utmost care in network safety management."

LG U+ currently has approximately 4,100 5G base stations. LG U+ plans to construct over 7,000 5G base stations by the end of December, and coinciding with the launch of 5G terminals in March next year, plans to expand 5G coverage to approximately 85 cities including major areas in Seoul and the metropolitan area as well as some metropolitan cities.


LG U+ and LS Mtron unveil 5G remote-controlled tractor
LG U+'s 5G service is also first provided to the industrial sector. LG U+'s first 5G customer is 'LS Mtron' located in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. LS Mtron, a specialized company in industrial machinery and advanced components, has jointly developed the '5G remote-controlled tractor' with LG U+, Korea's first.

When the moving path is set on the control system map, the tractor dozens of kilometers away moves along the set path while performing unmanned cultivation. The operator can remotely control the tractor as if sitting in the actual tractor cockpit, and check work progress in real time through video on the control center monitor.

LG U+ plans to apply 5G remote control technology to heavy equipment at dangerous industrial sites such as landmine removal, waste disposal, and building demolition to prevent casualties.

5G services for general consumers by the three telecom companies are scheduled to begin in March next year, after 5G terminals are officially launched.


The full-scale beginning of the 5G era and challenges ahead
5G, with its ultra-high speed, ultra-connectivity, and ultra-low latency characteristics, will bind everything we do, unlike communications up to LTE. This makes it possible to actually implement technologies that were previously impossible due to inadequate infrastructure.

However, the KT Ahyeon branch fire incident that occurred on November 24th threw a bucket of cold water on the rosy outlook filled with 5G prospects. At the moment of the fire, nearby communication networks were paralyzed and numerous citizens continue to experience inconvenience.

For 5G, which has just begun its journey, the Ahyeon branch fire sent a warning to the three telecom companies that they must maintain alertness to infrastructure emergencies exceeding that of LTE.

Localization of equipment is another mountain to climb. Chinese Huawei's communication equipment and technology are evaluated as the most superior in the world, but many consumers are reluctant due to security issues triggered by the United States. Huawei claims the allegations are unfounded, but the controversy is not easily subsiding.

In fact, whether to trust or distrust Huawei equipment is less important than whether to lead or fall behind in global 5G competition. Whether the domestic 5G future will be truly painted in rosy colors depends on the efforts of the three telecom companies.