SK Telecom and Dell Launch Global 5G MEC Platform

"Taking the Lead in the Global MEC Market"

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] SK Telecom announced on the 24th that it is launching a 5G MEC platform in collaboration with global IT company Dell Technologies to take the lead in the global mobile edge computing (MEC) market.

Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) is a technology that installs small-scale data centers near base stations close to users, drastically reducing data transmission distances to provide ultra-low latency communication. It is recognized as a core technology necessary for 5G specialized services such as smart factories, autonomous driving, and immersive media.

For example, if a telecom operator builds 5G MEC in a factory, data sent and received in the factory is processed on-site without having to pass through a central data center located hundreds of kilometers away. This reduces data transmission delays and errors, improving network efficiency and stability, and when using a dedicated network separated from the outside, security is also enhanced.

The newly launched 5G MEC platform is a product combining SK Telecom’s 5G MEC solution and Dell’s servers that provide computing performance optimized for MEC. It consists of network virtualization functions specialized for MEC, platform operation tools, and user environments for MEC service customers. In the future, it will also support interworking with other telecom operators’ MEC platforms and features that allow MEC services to be used like an app store.

The 5G MEC platform is a solution accumulated with SK Telecom’s experience in commercializing 5G MEC and operational know-how, and can be provided in a customized manner for target companies and institutions. It will also support integration with public clouds in the future, enabling customers to quickly and stably build MEC based on SK Telecom’s proven technology.

The two companies plan to supply the 5G MEC platform not only to global telecom operators but also to overseas companies and public institutions planning to introduce 5G private networks. In particular, leveraging Dell’s global sales network, they will accelerate the spread of the 5G MEC platform and strengthen the 5G E2E (End-to-End) business, which comprehensively provides consulting, infrastructure construction, and maintenance services beyond simply selling 5G MEC solutions.

Kim Kyung-jin, General Manager of Dell Technologies Korea, said, "We hope that more telecom service companies can utilize the infinite opportunities of 5G and edge computing through the collaborative solution of Dell and SK Telecom," adding, "Agile and consistent computing performance at the closest location to where data is generated will be a powerful weapon for innovation in the telecommunications industry in the future."

Kim Jin-woo, Head of Global Business at SK Telecom, said, "As global telecom operators are focusing on MEC technology as a way to expand 5G services, SK Telecom’s 5G MEC technology is receiving high evaluations in the market," and added, "In the future, we will lead the creation of a 5G global ecosystem through proactive technology development and various product launches in cooperation with Dell, as well as business expansion into SaaS (Software as a Service) models that allow participation from various domestic and international companies."