Race to Future Tech

SK Telecom has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Verizon Communications to cooperate for the fifth-generation (5G) network standardization.
SK Telecom has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Verizon Communications to cooperate for the fifth-generation (5G) network standardization.

 

The Korean government has begun to make all-out efforts to take the lead in the 5G era by securing an IMT frequency that is 200 MHz or wider at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 to be held in Geneva, Switzerland for four weeks from Nov. 2 to 27. The WRC is the world’s highest decision-making meeting held by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the U.N. every three or four years.

The conference revises the Radio Regulations, an international treaty including international frequency distribution and cross-border anti-interference criteria among others. The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning will dispatch a delegation comprised of specialists in the frequency sector. Jeon Seong-bae, the head of the Frequency Policy Department, will head up the delegation. Participants will have deep discussions about 27 topics such as additional IMT frequencies to cope with a sharp increase in worldwide mobile traffic, public safety, disaster relief, drone control, and vehicle radar frequencies.

With reference to mobile telecommunication frequencies, Korea aims to secure IMT frequencies that are 200 MHz or wider. This is because if Korea secures that, the nation can secure wide-band mobile telecommunication frequencies along with bands designated for IMT. The government’s strategy is to secure a bridgehead into the 5G service that will be commercialized in 2020 by preemptively responding to technological advancement, such as the TDD System and an increase in data traffic.

“Bands that Korea designated as frequencies for a disaster network are highly likely to be included in international standard frequencies for public safety and disaster relief, so Korea’s industries for equipment and terminals for disaster networks will secure much stronger competitiveness,” said a representative at the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.

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