First Technical Achievement of 5G Future Forum

KT has developed technical specifications and guidelines on 5G multi-access edge computing (5G MEC) with a group of global telecom operators.

KT announced on July 16 that it has developed technical specifications and guidelines on 5G multi-access edge computing (5G MEC) jointly with members of the 5G Future Forum. This is KT’s first technical achievement in six months since the formation of the 5G Future Forum.

5G MEC processes users' 5G data at a place very close to them. If this technology is applied to a 5G network, 5G convergence services such as industrial equipment automation, connected cars, and smart cities, can be commercialized more smoothly.

The 5G Future Forum is a network technology consortium formed by leading 5G service providers from various countries in January to expand a 5G MEC ecosystem. Its members include KT, Verizon of the United States, Vodafone of the United Kingdom, Telstra of Australia, Rogers of Canada, and America Movil of Mexico.

The core of the forum's joint technical specifications is the definition of an application program interface (API) used between telecom carriers and cloud service users located at the end of a network. Matching communication language or message formats is one of the essential conditions for the realization of 5G MEC technology. The specifications allow cloud service users or content producers to connect their services to customers more smoothly.

The 5G MEC guideline completed by the 5G Future Forum is a common standard for a physical environment for 5G MEC such as rack sizes, electric power, and security principles in a process to install equipment. Compliance with this guideline makes it quick and easy to establish an environment for 5G MEC, even if operators that wish to use it and mobile carriers that provide 5G MEC services are different.

KT said that the 5G Future Forum aims to increase demand for terminals that connect to a network with 5G MEC technology and drastically reduce network latency felt by general users at the same time. This direction will be able to naturally expand opportunities to provide various types of 5G convergence projects through networks.

Meanwhile, standards and guidelines developed by the 5G Future Forum are expected to be released to all business operators in August when a legal review is completed. In addition, it is planning to expand the global 5G MEC ecosystem by unveiling qualifications for new members that can participate in the 5G Future Forum.

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