Park Jung Ho, CEO of SK Telecom (left), shakes hands with Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft after they signed an MOU on May 7 for comprehensive cooperation in leading-edge ICT, including 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud.

SK Telecom and Microsoft Corp. signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on May 7 for comprehensive cooperation in leading-edge ICT, including 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud.

Under the MOU, SK Telecom and Microsoft will combine their technological capabilities in areas such as 5G, AI and cloud to jointly promote Internet of Things (IoT) business, including smart factory; AI technologies and services; media and entertainment services; and new ways of working for ICT companies under the SK Group umbrella.

To promote smart factory IoT business operations, the two companies established a business strategic partnership in February 2019 to launch Microsoft Azure with Metatron, SK Telecom’s self-developed big data solution. SK Telecom and Microsoft will work together to further upgrade the service and implement joint marketing activities.

By putting together the capabilities of SK Telecom’s AI platform NUGU with Microsoft’s Cortana digital assistant, the two companies will work together to offer new AI-powered products and services, including consumer solutions such as smart speakers and other offerings for the enterprise.

Moreover, the two companies will work together to create a new level of customer experience in the field of media and entertainment.

SK Telecom will adopt Microsoft 365, the company’s intelligent and secure solution to empower employees, to create a modern workplace and promote a new way of working among employees. Eventually, SK Telecom will expand Microsoft 365 to other ICT companies under the SK Group umbrella. In addition, the two companies will provide new value to customers by combining Microsoft’s modern workplace devices and solutions, such as Surface and Office 365, with SK Telecom’s unique products and services.

Models make a pitch for SK Telecom’s offering world’s first live TV sports broadcasting using 5G network. (Photos: SK Telecom)

SK Telecom to Offer World’s First Live TV Sports Broadcasting Using 5G Network

SK Telecom will offer live broadcast of ‘SK Telecom Open 2019’ on both JTBC Golf, a TV channel operated by JTBC, and ‘oksusu’ Korea’s largest OTT video service, using its commercial 5G network.

 ‘SK Telecom Open 2019’ is a professional golf tournament held as part of the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA) Korean Tour. The event will take place at SKY72 Golf & Resort located in Incheon, Korea, from May 16 to 19.

 In collaboration with JTBC, SK Telecom will broadcast live the golf tournament on JTBC Golf for selective areas of the golf course, which marks the worlds’ first case where 5G network is used for live TV broadcasting of a sports event. To realize live transmission of video taken by broadcast cameras on the field during the tournament over 5G network, the company has secured 5G coverage for the third, fourth and ninth holes of the course and equipped the cameras with a 5G module.