SK Telecom (CEO, Park Jong-ho) revealed that it will introduce 4.5G (G) mobile communication services such as `Carrier Aggregation (CA)` in 57 cities and regions nationwide including Seoul from June 5.

The `5-band CA` is a 4.5G core technology which combines five LTE frequencies as a single frequency, improving data transmission speed and performance. This technology is able to provide up to 700 Mbps service. According to the international standards body 3GPP, up to five LTE frequencies can be bundled. The SKT explained that the `5-band CA` is the final step in LTE evolution. Meanwhile, SK Telecom is the only mobile carrier that has five LTE frequency bands in Korea. The company also combines `3 to 4 band CA` technology and `4 × 4 multi-antenna (MIMO)` technology in major urban areas of Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon and Ulsan G service in combination up to 900Mbps 4.5G service.

4.5G service is available only to SK Telecom subscribers using the Galaxy S8 series. Users of the Galaxy S8 series are able to use the service through software upgrades. The company predicts that even those who do not use the Galaxy S8 can expect to experience a faster rate of performance due to traffic dispersion and network optimization.

The SKT plans to provide 4.5G service at 700 ~ 900Mbps in 57 cities and regions in Korea first, and expand it to 85 cities and regions in the first half of the year. Besides, by the end of the year, more than 50% of the nation`s population will expand the service area to 4.5G. On the other hand, the company will also continue to develop 4.5G technology, which will show 4.5G service faster than Internet at speed of 1Gbps or faster. Most of the premium smartphones which will be released in the future are expected to be equipped with 4.5G technology.

By Jung Yoon Hee yuni@


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