SKT "Stable UAM Communication Quality Confirmed in 5G Sky Network Test Results from Goheung"

Goheung 'K-UAM Grand Challenge' Demonstration
Aiming to Establish 5G Airspace Network on Flight Routes Within This Year

SK Telecom announced on the 4th that it successfully completed a pilot test related to the 5G aerial network near the National Comprehensive Flight Test Center in Goheung, Jeonnam. The photo shows an SK Telecom engineer inspecting the 5G aerial network antenna equipment. Photo by SK Telecom engineer

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] SK Telecom has begun building a 5G aerial network necessary for K-UAM demonstration in collaboration with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), the lead organization for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 'K-UAM Grand Challenge' demonstration project.

SK Telecom announced on the 4th that it successfully completed a pilot test related to the 5G aerial network near the National Comprehensive Flight Test Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do.

In July, SK Telecom operated a communication quality measurement drone on the aerial network pilot established in Goheung to check service quality based on communication altitude and distance. As a result, stable communication quality was confirmed at the urban air mobility (UAM) flight altitude of 300 to 600 meters.

Based on the test results, SK Telecom plans to build a 5G aerial network on some sections of the Goheung K-UAM Grand Challenge Phase 1 demonstration flight route within this year. The 5G aerial network established in Goheung will be provided not only to the SK Telecom consortium (K-UAM Dream Team Consortium) but also to other consortia and institutions, supporting consortia without their own networks to conduct research.

Additionally, in preparation for the Phase 2 urban demonstration of the K-UAM Grand Challenge, a pilot 5G aerial network infrastructure has been established in some areas of the Seoul metropolitan area. Plans are also underway to collaborate with related organizations to provide optimal aerial network quality in urban environments.

The 5G aerial network is expected to bring significant changes compared to the existing ground-centered network infrastructure construction and operation methods. A system capable of efficiently managing communication quality over a wide aerial area is essential.

SK Telecom plans to progressively develop cell design technology, interference avoidance technology, beamforming technology, and cell cooperation technology to stably provide a high-quality aerial communication network for UAM services. Through collaboration with Joby Aviation, a global leader in UAM aircraft, SK Telecom also intends to lead demonstrations related to the aerial network.

Ha Min-yong, SK Telecom's CDO (Chief Development Officer), stated, "Building a high-quality 5G aerial network is essential for stable UAM services," adding, "We will continue efforts to advance communication that encompasses both ground and aerial in the 6G era and lead the future mobility era."