KT is using this week’s Mobile World Congress to demo a range of 5G use cases from artificial intelligence robots and rescue systems to 360-degree virtual reality (VR) live steaming.
One of the demos is a 5G Skyship, an airship floating in the sky of the Korean Peninsula, from a 5G Remote Cockpit Zone installed at the company’s exhibition booth in Barcelona.
According to KT spokesperson, the skyship carries a high-definition camera to deliver high-quality images of emergency situations taken from the air to on-shore disaster control centers on a real-time basis.
The company also exhibiting a virtual reality gaming demonstration where players can wear VR glasses to “hit” a baseball.
KT chairman and CEO Hwang Chang-gyu said that the new 5G era will transform the world and also elevate user experiences to a new level of maximum versatility and immersion.
“In the 5G era, neckband cameras, AR glasses and all kinds of devices will be connected to 5G, contributing to a better life for mankind,” Hwang told audience at a keynote at the MWC2019 this week.
He said KT will focus on five key areas, including smart cities, smart factories, connected cars, 5G media and the 5G cloud.
KT deployed the first phase of its 5G network in the greater Seoul metropolitan area in late November 2018, with plans to expand its nationwide 5G network to 24 major cities across the country.
The operator will be rolling out its commercial mobile 5G network in March in conjunction with new 5G smartphones provided by Samsung and LG.
It also has signed agreements with Cisco, Intel and Qualcomm to cooperate in preparing commercial 5G services, and plans forge 1,000 partnerships by 2020.
On the sidelines of MWC 2019, KT and Nokia signed a MoU to collaborate on various 5G technologies, including NFC and network slicing, to develop new applications and business models for the operator's enterprise customers.
KT is also helping Saudi Telecom Company (STC) to upgrade fixed-line and mobile networks in Saudi Arabia.
The partnership, announced at the MWC2019, will see the pair collaborating on next-generation telecom services.
KT said it plans on exporting its ICT-based services such as GiGA Wire high-speed internet service, GiGAeyes visual security service, 5G services, VR & AR, as well as its big data services to the Middle East.