[Digital Times, Chong Ye-rin] Competition among mobile carriers is fierce in order to secure leadership in the 5G mobile (5G) market. A `noticed` game is taking place to preempt the 5G market leading image.

In particular, in order to implement 5G technology, various devices are needed, and the nerve field for showing different industries and convergence technologies is getting worse. There are a limited number of manufacturers who can make products that can run 5G technology, and carriers are working with the same manufacturer at the same time.

According to the industry on December 10, SK Telecom and KT are aware of Samsung Electronics` recent developments in 5G handsets.

At the end of September, SK Telecom revealed that it had tested hands-free 360-degree live streaming with Samsung Electronics along with 4G mobile communication (4G) and 5G terminals. A month later, in late October, KT announced that it succeeded in linking Samsung`s tablet terminal, which conforms to Pyeongchang 5G standards to the 5G demonstration network built in Pyeongchang.

Especially, KT emphasized that it is the first time a real terminal is connected to a 5G network. KT`s response was due to the test conducted by SK Telecom and Samsung Electronics at the end of September. An industry official said, "KT has been testing the interoperability test with Samsung Electronics since last year, and SK Telecom first tested it."

SK Telecom also revealed that 5G 360-degree virtual reality (VR) video call will be demonstrated in the Euljiro district of Seoul with SK Telecom and KT in conjunction with 5G test network with Samsung Electronics.

According to the industry, competition for the 5G initiative is getting worse as KT is chosen as the official partner of PyeongChang Olympic and will show 5G technology in PyeongChang.

KT is expected to showcase 5G convergence service in PyeongChang: △ SinkView △ Interactive Time Slice △ 360 VR Live △ Omni Point View.

An expert in the industry has criticized KT for PyeongChang`s 5G technology, saying, "It`s just a collection of 5G technologies developed by other carriers." In response, KT replied, "The other carriers are not selected as an official partner, so they cannot do 5G marketing through Pyeongchang. Nerve warfare is making a difference by cutting down the technology of the other side.

KT, the official partner of the PyeongChang Olympic Games, is not at ease. It was because of the encounter with Hyundai Motor, the official partner of the same 5G autonomous bus.

Last month, Hyundai Kia Motors opposed KT`s marketing of 5G buses as illegal because it had marketing rights related to autonomous vehicles. KT said, "It is Hyundai Motor that mainly shows autonomous vehicles and we are discussing positively about marketing with Hyundai Motor because we are implementing only 5G bus."

Meanwhile, mobile carriers are competing in time for new technologies. In November, SK Telecom and LG Uplus demonstrated a drone-related disaster relief demonstration with one day`s difference.

KT, in May, has been selected as the pilot company for drone traffic management system by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in October, and demonstrated `SKYSSIAN`, a solution to build maritime safety in October. "Competition will become even more intense ahead of the commercialization of 5G," an industry expert said. "It is important that other industries converge and who has control over the platform."

By Chong Ye Rin yeslin@


[ copyright ⓒ The Digitaltimes ]