Internet of Cooperative Things
KT is spurring the construction of an ecosystem for the local Internet of Things (IoT) industry in the belief that its first priority is to create a virtuous circle by teaming up with large, medium, and small companies altogether, going beyond just launching IoT services.
KT held the first Olleh GiGA IoT Alliance Makers Day at the GiGA IoT Business Cooperation Center on Sept. 17. At the event, the nation's second-largest mobile carrier announced measures to grow the IoT ecosystem, its cooperation with the Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, ways to use IoT platforms and penetrate overseas markets including China, and shared information with member companies.
The carrier set up the "GiGA IoT Alliance" on Aug. 25, in which Samsung Electronics, Nokia, China Mobile, and Microsoft are key members. The number of members has increased to around 200 only three weeks after its establishment. The industry is paying a lot of attention to the alliance to the extent that it receives an average of 10 inquiries per day about joining the organization, according to KT.
Currently, KT is offering an open-source IoT software platform called IoT Makers to members. Members are aiming to develop IoT solutions in just three days, as opposed to several months in the past, using the platform. The carrier also proved the compatibility of IoT Makers with other platforms during the First oneM2M Interoperability event at the headquarters of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute in Sophia-Antipolis, France from Sept. 14 to 16.
KT's entry into the Chinese market will be made through China Mobile, which has recently joined the alliance. "Our company will invite 10 Korean IoT companies to China every quarter and help them display and publicize promising IoT products in the nation," said Qiao Hui, the head of China Mobile's IoT business, through a video message at the event.