Mobile World Congress 2018, the world`s largest mobile exhibition in Barcelona, Spain, is on its way to becoming a fifth-generation mobile communications (5G) battleground. Korean companies such as SK Telecom and KT, as well as overseas companies such as Qualcomm, Intel and Huawei NTT DoCoMo are putting 5G on the front of the exhibition hall. It is a strategic move to take the initiative in the `5G` market, a future telecom company that is already commercializing chipsets and handset companies as well as carriers.

MWC is able to identify 5G stationery throughout the exhibition hall, and each company is concentrating on highlighting the image of `5G leading company`, bringing 5G related services and products to the foreground.

Meanwhile, most active companies are SK Telecom and KT. SK Telecom emphasized that Park Jung-ho, president of the company, is a leading 5G company at the press conference, and is presenting 5G services in various exhibition venues. SK Telecom has set up the theme of the exhibition as `Perfect 5G` and has put 5G base station in the exhibition hall to demonstrate the 5G video call and open the 5G self-driving car. Based on the slogan `World`s first 5G`, KT demonstrated a 5G broadcast relay that synthesizes real-time images taken by several drones based on 5G`s ultra-high speed, ultra-low latency and super connectivity. In addition, VR experience-based games based on 5G network using `VR Walk-through`, a wireless virtual reality (VR) transmission technology, were introduced and captured the audience.

Japan NTT DoCoMo, which is promoting commercialization of 5G next year, demonstrated a variety of convergence services such as robotics and Augmented Reality using the 5G network with the theme of "5G Comes Here". Humanoid robots using the 5G characteristics of ultra-low delay have attracted attention.

Qualcomm, on the other hand, put 5G concept cars at the entrance of the exhibition hall and put its efforts into the image of 5G leading company. The car showed the changes that 5G NR (New Radio) would bring to the future of connected cars. Qualcomm will use the Snapdragon X50 5G modem to offer infotainment, navigation and Wi-Fi services.

Intel also unveiled the 5G Connected Car and introduced a 5G VR game with ultra-low latency. At the front of the exhibition, 5G-based live-video playback was demonstrated through a 5G-based, connected-concept PC. Intel plans to launch NTT DoCoMo and 5G service at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Huawei has unveiled the world`s first commercial 5G home terminal device (CPE) and 5G chip set `5G01` for mobile devices. Developed with the World Telecommunication Standardization Organization (3GPP) standard, the Balon 5G01 offers download speeds of up to 2Gbps. Huawei plans to launch a 5G smartphone with a 5G01 in the second half of this year.

Also, China`s ZTE also set up a separate space for industry representatives in the booth and focused on 5G-related technologies. Cisco also introduced the vision to make it 5G.

Barcelona (Spain) = By Kim Ji Young kjy@


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