KT succeeds in developing core equipment for 5G-specialized networks

KT Corp., a South Korean telecom service operator, has successfully developed equipment that embodies the core technology of 5G-specialized networks in collaboration with tech startup Eluon Corp.

KT announced on Tuesday the completion of the joint development of 5G-specialized network core equipment at the Eluon office building in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province. The equipment performs various functions, including connecting to terminals within the 5G-specialized network, authentication, traffic control and subscriber management.

The Korean government, KT and domestic SMEs collaborated in the development of this equipment. KT and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups invested in Eluon, which developed the technology, and transferred the KT-owned technology to reduce the development time and improve equipment performance.

The government, KT and Eluon promoted this as a joint public-private investment project sponsored by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups since September last year.

"It is a meaningful milestone as it is the result of the joint efforts of the government, a large corporation and a small startup. We expect that it will serve as an opportunity to disrupt the 5G-specialized network equipment market, which is currently dominated by large foreign companies, with domestic startup products that have technological prowess and price competitiveness," said a KT official.

A 5G-specialized network is a 5G communication network built for a specific purpose in a limited area, such as a specific company building, factory or logistics base.

KT plans to showcase the newly developed equipment at MWC 2023, which will be held in Spain at the end of this month. The company aims to support Eluon's overseas market entry and provide marketing support, such as inviting buyers and supporting expenses for local stays, to achieve tangible overseas sales results.

"We will continue to cooperate with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups through joint R&D fund contributions this year," said Cho Hoon, head of KT's SCM strategy office. 

Write to Han-Gyeol Seon at always@hankyung.com