5G Standardization
SK Telecom announced on August 15 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Verizon Communications, the largest wireless service provider in the U.S., for fifth-generation (5G) network standardization. As part of the partnership, the two operators have agreed to help the 5G technical specifications, which have been discussed from last year between them, to be adopted in global mobile communication standardization organizations, including the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). They will also jointly develop innovative 5G services.
Based on the agreement, the two nations’ largest mobile carriers are expected to have advantage over the 5G standardization competition in the future. In addition, the two shared the current development conditions of 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and infrastructure virtualization.
SK Telecom Chief Technology Officer Choi Jin-sung and Roger Gurnani, executive vice president and chief information and technology architect for Verizon, attended the MOU signing ceremony, which was held at the SK Telecom headquarters in Euljiro, Seoul, on the 8th.
Meanwhile, the two firms have been discussing requirements and plans for the 5G standard from last year. In particular, they formed the global 5G Open Trial Specification Alliance in February this year to discuss the standards of 5G pilot services, leading the 5G technology standards.