SK Telecom said it is aiming to commercialize its 5G standalone (SA) network within this year.
Lee Jong-hoon, head of Infrastructure Strategy at SK Telecom, said during a press briefing marking the 30th anniversary of CDMA commercialization on April 8 in Seoul that the company is currently testing 5G SA with the goal of launching it within the year. He added that commercialization is expected in the fourth quarter and that the company is focusing on defining and researching 6G technologies.
Unlike non-standalone (NSA) 5G, which relies on a 4G LTE core network, 5G SA operates on a dedicated 5G core. According to the company, the architecture enables key capabilities such as network slicing, ultra-low latency and support for industry-specific services. SK Telecom plans to use the rollout as a foundation for building an "AI highway"-centered intelligent infrastructure.
Kim Hong-sik, an analyst at Hana Securities, said in a March report titled "Telecom Services April Investment Strategy" that discussions around adopting 5G SA are tied to the development of physical AI. He said telecom operators are likely to move toward 5G SA in the second half of the year and that new pricing plans linked to the transition could be introduced by year-end.
Ahn Jae-min, an analyst at NH Investment & Securities, said in a separate March report that as 5G investment enters its final phase, telecom operators' cash flow and profitability are improving. He added that 6G services are unlikely to materialize before at least 2029, and that 5G is expected to remain the dominant network for more than 100 months, making it the longest-lasting generation to date.
KT began commercializing 5G SA in July 2021 and has recently expanded support for iPhones. LG Uplus has also announced plans to commercialize 5G SA within the year.
Lee said that in the AI era, networks are evolving beyond simple data transmission tools into intelligent infrastructure capable of learning from and processing data.
출처 : THE ELEC, Korea Electronics Industry Media(http://www.thelec.net)
Source: https://www.thelec.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=6497
