LG Uplus Leads 5G Smart Factory Advancement for Small and Medium Enterprises in Gyeongnam

Jeon Seung-hoon, Head of Smart Infrastructure Business at LG Uplus (left), TP Jo Yu-seop, Director of Gyeongnam Information Industry Headquarters (center), and Lee Jae-won, Executive Director of Nokia Korea (right) pose for a commemorative photo at the business agreement ceremony. Photo by LG Uplus

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Su-yeon] LG Uplus announced on the 28th that it has signed a business agreement with Gyeongnam Technopark and Nokia Solutions and Networks Korea to promote 5G-based smart transformation and digital innovation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized company factories in the Gyeongnam region.

The business agreement ceremony held at the Gyeongnam TP building located in Uichang-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, was attended by key officials including Jeon Seung-hoon, LG Uplus Smart Infrastructure Business Director (Executive Director), Jo Yoo-seop, Head of the Information Industry Division at Gyeongnam TP, and Lee Jae-won, Executive Director of Nokia Korea.

Gyeongnam TP is a hub institution that establishes industrial development strategies and policies tailored to the conditions and characteristics of the Gyeongsangnam-do region and fosters strong technology companies within the area. It supports the cultivation of strategic industries in the region, promotion of local ICT (software) industries, digital transformation of manufacturing, and the dissemination and expansion of smart factories.

This business agreement aims to accelerate the advancement of smart factories for SMEs and mid-sized companies in Gyeongnam by combining the strengths of the solutions, networks, and equipment possessed by the three parties. Specifically, LG Uplus will provide consulting for the construction of enterprise private networks and specialized networks, as well as smart factory solutions necessary for manufacturing sites based on 5G. Gyeongnam TP, equipped with regional infrastructure and networks, will identify demand sites requiring smart factory advancement, and Nokia Korea will provide network equipment for implementing 5G services.

Additionally, through this business agreement, LG Uplus will conduct a promotion allowing SMEs and mid-sized companies to experience cloud solutions free of charge for six months to reduce the financial burden of smart factory advancement. Since the cloud solution is a smart factory system jointly operated by companies in similar industries or with shared interests, the cost burden is low. With the free trial promotion added, it is expected to significantly reduce the burden on SMEs and mid-sized companies.

Jo Yoo-seop, Head of the Information Industry Division at Gyeongnam TP, stated, "We decided to cooperate with LG Uplus and Nokia Korea to accelerate the digital transformation of SMEs and mid-sized companies in the Gyeongnam region," adding, "We will work closely with the two companies and the region to create a safer and smarter factory environment."

Jeon Seung-hoon, LG Uplus Smart Infrastructure Business Director (Executive Director), said, "Through this business agreement, we expect to showcase LG Uplus's unique smart factory advancement technology to more SMEs and mid-sized companies," and added, "We will continue to actively support factories of SMEs and mid-sized companies nationwide to enhance manufacturing competitiveness through innovation."

Meanwhile, this business agreement is the second case with a technopark following LG Uplus's cooperation with Seoul Technopark last August. LG Uplus and Seoul Technopark are collaborating to expand smart factories for SMEs and mid-sized companies in the Seoul area, and jointly exhibited smart factory-related technologies at the '4th Smart Factory Construction and Production Automation Exhibition (SMATEC 2022)' held over three days from the 16th to the 18th.