SK Telecom today announced its achievements in 5G business since launching the world’s first 5G mobile services on April 3, 2019.
SK Telecom has around 2.22 million 5G subscribers with 44.7 percent market share in South Korea.
“SK Telecom was able to secure new business opportunities ahead of others by achieving the world’s first 5G commercialization,” said Ryu Young-sang, head of MNO Business of SK Telecom.
Achievements
SK Telecom has increased customers’ 5G experience by creating around 70 5G Clusters in key commercial districts and densely populated areas across the nation. Around 1 million customers visited 5G Clusters to experience 5G services including ‘Jump AR Zoo’ and ‘5G LoL Park.’
5G Clusters are built with more base stations than other 5G coverage areas to offer optimal 5G environment for services like AR and VR.
People in their 30s and 40s account for 53 percent of the company’s total 5G subscriber base, which is significantly higher than the proportion of people in their 30s and 40s in total LTE subscriber base, which currently stands at 32 percent.
The data consumption of SK Telecom’s 5G subscribers reached 62,000 TB on average per month over the past three months (Dec. 2019 – Feb. 2020). The average monthly data usage of subscribers who switched devices from LTE to 5G has increased about twofold from 14.5 GB (LTE) to 28.5 GB (5G) per person.
SK Telecom’s 5G subscribers are using media services. As of February 2020, 5G subscribers are using 7 times more VR services, 3.6 times more video steaming services and 2.7 times more game apps than LTE subscribers.
SK Telecom has cooperated with Microsoft and Amazon Web Services in the area of cloud, and has ventured into the U.S. next-generation broadcasting (ATSC 3.0) market with Sinclair Broadcast Group.
SK Telecom also shared its experience and knowhow in 5G with other mobile operators across the globe including Deutsche Telekom, Taiwan Mobile and IT&E.
5G plans
SK Telecom and Microsoft are providing 92 different games through Project xCloud. Cloud gaming service is being highlighted as the ‘game changer’ that will shift the paradigm in the gaming industry.
Jump Studio will provide solutions that enable the creation of 3D content like holograms by combining the strengths of augmented and virtual reality technologies. SK Telecom expects Jump Studio to accelerate the popularization of realistic media by significantly reducing time and cost for content creation.
SK Telecom plans to release mobile device applied with quantum cryptography technologies and provide advanced security solutions to 5G users.
SK Telecom will be expanding the enterprise business in 2020. SK Telecom will work with diverse industries to serve as a catalyst for industrial innovations in Korea.
SK Telecom plans to build 5G MEC (Mobile Edge Computing) Centers in 12 locations across Korea to lead a cloud-driven industrial revolution. The company aims to launch 5G edge cloud service by joining hands with cloud companies such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft.
SK Telecom will deploy a private 5G network at SK Hynix’s semiconductor manufacturing facility to realize 5G smart factory that can lead to a supercycle in the semiconductor industry. The company is planning to add AI video analytics and AR technology to its 5G network.
In 2020, SK Telecom will bring the total number of its 5G Clusters to 240 and expand 5G coverage to neighborhoods of 85 cities by working with telecom equipment manufacturers.
The company will secure indoor coverage for 2,000 buildings, including not just airports, department stores and large shopping malls but also small-to medium-sized buildings, by deploying its 5G in-building solutions.
