KT CEO Koo Hyun-mo: "The Land of 5G Opportunity is B2B, Will Win-Win with Other Industries"

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] "Until now, mobile communication has been centered on B2C, but the focus of 5G will shift to B2B. KT will lead innovation in other industries through 5G."

Ku Hyun-mo, CEO of KT, emphasized this during his keynote speech at the GTI Summit 2020 on the evening of the 1st (Korean time), stating, "5G is not just a network but a platform with explosive potential when combined with artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and cloud." He added, "The role of telecom operators is to create new value together with various businesses and consumers from the perspective that 5G is a platform beyond the network. Based on KT’s differentiated technology that has led the world’s first 5G and the know-how of discovering various application cases, KT will realize the infinite possibilities of 5G in the B2B sector."

CEO Ku particularly stressed, "Although we are currently targeting the B2C market one year after the commercialization of 5G in Korea, ultimately, we must create a vision in the B2B market." He explained that the 5G B2B market is a blue ocean where countless differentiated services can be born across various industrial sectors. He added, "Corporate customers view communication services not as final consumer goods but as elements of facility investment and infrastructure advancement, so it can be a win-win situation." He shared various 5G B2B application cases discovered by KT, emphasizing that 5G-based digital transformation (DX) can increase corporate productivity and contribute to the development of other industries.

The first example he cited was the application of 5G in film production sites. By utilizing 5G, video files can be transmitted within an hour on-site, drastically shortening the film production period. Considering the poor working conditions of small and medium-sized film production companies, this has resulted in tremendous cost savings and productivity increases. He also mentioned that the quality of medical services for patients can be improved in the healthcare sector. Since September last year, KT has been jointly developing 5G medical services with Samsung Seoul Hospital to build a ‘5G Smart Innovation Hospital.’ Through 5G digital pathology diagnosis, pathological data generated during surgery, amounting to about 4GB per slide, can be delivered to pathology professors, enabling rapid and accurate pathological analysis.

CEO Ku also pointed out challenges that need to be addressed for the expansion of 5G B2B. He said, "It is necessary to expand B2B devices equipped with 5G modules, have an accurate understanding of each industrial sector, and create differentiated value from existing networks," emphasizing, "Above all, synergy through combining AI, big data, and cloud is the most important key." He also stressed the importance of carefully examining the opportunities in the telecommunications market, including 5G, brought about by COVID-19 at this point. He explained that the importance of communication networks as social infrastructure has been emphasized due to COVID-19, and the demand for communication services is increasing due to the surge in media and data consumption, highlighting the newly emerging role of telecom companies.

CEO Ku said, "Digital transformation and non-face-to-face interactions spreading after COVID-19, such as online education, telecommuting, and remote medical care, are not temporary social phenomena but will be a major long-term trend. Within this, new business opportunities will emerge for telecom operators."

Meanwhile, the ‘GTI Summit’ is an event hosted by GTI and has been held annually as a partner program of the Mobile World Congress (MWC). This year, due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), it is held online over two days on the evening of the 1st and the afternoon of the 2nd. The presentation video of Ku Hyun-mo, the only Korean keynote speaker at the GTI Summit, was broadcast online on the first day of the event, the 1st.