KT Chairman Hwang Chang-kyu met with Nokia Chairman Rajeev Suri and discussed ways of promoting cooperation in technologies related to 5G mobile network services at KT’s office in Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul, on Aug. 25. The two CEOs exchanged views on the upcoming pilot 5G mobile network services that will be featured during the Winter Olympic Games PyeongChang 2018. 

They shared plans on the commercialization of a 5G mobile network the two companies have prepared. 

In November 2015, KT and Nokia teamed up with global telecom equipment makers to establish a consultative body to develop the standards for a 5G mobile network, and they have developed technologies to demonstrate 5G mobile network services. 

The two companies are discussing ways of cementing the role of the organization after the pilot 5G mobile network during the Olympiad to advance the commercialization of a 5G mobile network based on the 5G New Radio (NR), the global 5G standard for a new OFDM-based air interface designed to support the wide variation of 5G device-types, services, deployments and spectrum, a KT official said. 

KT and Nokia plan to collaborate on the development of the likes of 5G wave transmission technologies with the mobile network standardization body 3GPP. They plan to elevate their collaboration to expand 5G services and develop a new platform. 

The new platform will employ network virtualization that will enable the establishment of efficient networks in a VR format independent from 5G substations and equipment. 

KT has made efforts to complement 5G pilot services to be demonstrated during the PyeongChang Olympiad since 2015, when the company announced its 5G vision, 

Chairman Hwang said. KT will commercialize the world’s first 5G mobile network and help Korea spearhead a 5G ecosystem, he added. Chairman Suri also toured SK Telecom and discussed ways of collaborating on 5G with Kaong Jong-ryong of the Infrastructure Division of SK Telecom.  

KT’s 5G technology recognized as No. 1 in World

KT's 5G technology has once again been recognized as the world's best on the global stage. KT won the Best Network Development award at the 5G World Awards 2017 at the Tobacco Dock in London, England on Jun 15, 2017.

KT has won the award three years in a row since 201,5 and is the first company ever to have won it four times. (It also won the honor in 2012.)

The 5G World Awards is sponsored by Informa Telecom & Media, a Global ICT research institute with 150 branches in 43 countries. The 5G World Awards is held during the 5G World Conference, which is the world's largest 5G conference. It has been held for the eighth time this year.

The 5G World Awards selects companies that have achieved the highest performance and innovation in the mobile communications industry worldwide.

With this Best Network Development award, KT was recognized for its leadership in 5G technology along with its excellent LTE network. It has also officially proved that KT is a global leader not only in LTE but also in 5G technology.

KT not only improved the speed of its commercial LTE network using the LTE-A Pro technologies such as multiband CA and 256 QAM, but it also led National Public Safety Network solutions for railroad and the marine routes.