POSCO Establishes Disaster-Preparedness Communication System at Steelworks with Three Major Telecom Companies

POSCO Signs MOU with SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus at POSCO Center on the 20th

POSCO, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus signed a memorandum of understanding on the 20th at the POSCO Center to improve mobile communication networks and ensure rapid recovery in preparation for disasters at steelworks. From the left in the photo, Shim Min-seok, Head of Digital Innovation at POSCO; Yoon Hyung-sik, Head of Infrastructure Customer CT at SK Telecom; Park Jung-joon, Head of Corporate Customer Division at KT; and Lim Sung-joon, Head of NW Infrastructure Operations Group at LG Uplus, are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by POSCO

POSCO has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus (hereinafter referred to as the three telecom companies) to improve mobile phone communication networks for disaster preparedness at steel mills and ensure rapid recovery.

The event held on the 20th at POSCO Center was attended by Shim Min-seok, Head of POSCO Digital Innovation Office; Yoon Hyung-sik, SK Telecom Infrastructure Customer CT Manager; Park Jung-joon, KT Enterprise Customer Headquarters Director; and Lim Sung-joon, LG U+ NW Infrastructure Operations Group Leader.

Last year, POSCO faced an unprecedented disaster when the cold stream overflowed due to Typhoon Hinnamnor, flooding the entire Pohang Steelworks. Although rapid communication was necessary for emergency response, communication equipment was submerged, making contact via portable electronic devices difficult.

Accordingly, POSCO and the three telecom companies agreed to improve the environment so that mobile phone communication is possible even if the Pohang and Gwangyang Steelworks, the backbone of the national key industries, suffer damage from disasters. They also agreed to activate a joint response system during emergencies to quickly restore mobile communication networks.

POSCO and the three telecom companies have reinforced batteries in preparation for sudden power outages and secured 106 emergency generators that can be deployed immediately. In addition, they are improving the environment to prevent damage by relocating communication equipment vulnerable to flooding.

Furthermore, to ensure minimum communication even in the worst-case scenarios such as damage or collapse of mobile communication facilities, they selected key priority recovery sites to create backup communication networks and established an emergency response system to enable organic cooperation between POSCO and each telecom company.

In addition, POSCO and the three telecom companies agreed to mutually cooperate in this MOU on ▲ mutual support of equipment and personnel needed for recovery ▲ operation of hotlines ▲ joint disaster response drills.

Shim Min-seok, Head of POSCO Digital Innovation Office, said, “Communication is essential for rapid decision-making and on-site response during disasters,” and added, “Through cooperation with the three telecom companies, a system for business continuity and rapid recovery at steel mills during unexpected disasters will be established.”

Meanwhile, POSCO is installing flood barriers around the Pohang Steelworks to block large amounts of external inflow water and reinforcing internal flood protection facilities to protect core equipment, making efforts to secure business continuity of national key industrial facilities against unexpected natural disasters.