SKT Strengthens Network Management with Integrated Wired and Wireless Hub

Efficient Management of Multiple Optical Lines with a Single Device

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] SK Telecom announced on the 18th that it has commercialized the first integrated wired and wireless hub equipment applied to the front haul of mobile communication networks in Korea.

The integrated wired and wireless hub equipment commercialized by SKT this time is a type of front haul router that can efficiently manage and strongly control optical lines used for various services such as 5G, 4G, and wired internet simultaneously with a single device.

The front haul serves as a connection between the Digital Unit (DU) and the Remote Radio Unit (RU) in the mobile communication radio access network.

SKT has been conducting related technology verification since the second half of last year, and this year, together with SK Broadband, completed commercialization through tests applying the integrated wired and wireless hub to 5G·LTE front haul and Ethernet-based wired internet services.

SKT plans to accelerate its evolution into an AI service company by expanding and operating the integrated wired and wireless hub mainly in areas that need to comprehensively provide wireless services and internet services for B2B and B2C customers.

SKT also plans to advance the interface specifications of the front haul using the integrated wired and wireless hub. It can simultaneously accommodate CPRI (Common Public Radio Interface) and eCPRI (enhanced Common Public Radio Interface), which are currently used as base station equipment standards in Korea, and is conducting research and development to support future 6G standards as well.

The eCPRI standard, which uses Ethernet-based internet, is advantageous for the advancement of 5G services and is being adopted globally as a general standard. SKT explained that continuous development of such technology is necessary in terms of evolution toward 6G, which is expected to primarily use internet-based signals.

Sung Jin-soo, head of SKT Infrastructure Engineering, stated, “We plan to flexibly accommodate future integrated wired and wireless services and continuously strengthen network infrastructure management capabilities to lead the advancement of 5G and evolution toward 6G.”