LG Electronics Selected as a Key Chair Company in US-Led 6G Alliance

CTO Division's Lee Ki-dong Takes Charge of One of Six Core Subcommittees
Discusses 6G Preceding Technologies and Proposes Service Directions

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] LG Electronics has risen as a key chair company in the 6G mobile communication technology alliance, the ‘Next G Alliance.’ Standing shoulder to shoulder with global major IT companies such as Qualcomm, Nokia, and HPE, it is taking the lead in the competition for core 6G technologies.

LG Electronics announced on the 15th that it has been selected as a chair company of the Next G Alliance, hosted by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) in the United States.

On the 3rd (local time), Dr. Lee Ki-dong, Senior Researcher of LG Electronics’ CTO division, was elected as the chair of the Applications working group for a two-year term. The Applications working group discovers 6G use cases and establishes technical requirements. LG Electronics plays a key role in leading discussions on advanced technologies and proposing service directions.

The Next G Alliance was established at the end of last year by ATIS to secure leadership in 6G technology. It includes the three major U.S. mobile carriers and 48 global companies in telecommunications equipment and semiconductor sectors. The alliance is composed of six working groups, including Applications chaired by LG Electronics, with Qualcomm, Nokia, HPE, VMware, and MITRE chairing the other groups.

This enables proactive responses ahead of the 6G market emergence. 6G communication is expected to undergo standardization discussions around 2025 and be commercialized by 2029. It is noted for faster wireless transmission speeds than 5G, as well as support for low latency and high reliability communications. The Internet of Everything Intelligence (AIoE), where people, objects, and spaces are organically connected, is also expected to be realized in reality.

LG Electronics is accelerating efforts to secure core 6G source technologies. In 2019, it partnered with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) to establish the ‘LG-KAIST 6G Research Center,’ and earlier this year, it strengthened collaboration with Keysight, a global manufacturer of wireless communication test and measurement equipment.

Kim Byung-hoon, Executive Vice President and Head of LG Electronics’ Future Technology Center, emphasized, “As 5G competitiveness is recognized as a foundational technology leading national competitiveness and core industries, the global competition to secure next-generation 6G mobile communication technology after 5G is intensifying. Through preparation, we will secure leadership in the standardization and commercialization stages of 6G mobile communication.”