Incheon City is expected to become the first city in the country where PAVs (Personal Air Vehicles) fly, based on next-generation 6G three-dimensional communication.
On the 8th, Incheon City signed a business agreement for the "6G Three-Dimensional Communication Demonstration Development and Incheon PAV Industry Activation" with the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Ongjin County, Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, Incheon Urban Corporation, Incheon Technopark, and Sumbi Co., Ltd. The next-generation mobile communication 6G, expected to be commercialized around 2030, will be demonstrated in Incheon in conjunction with PAVs.
The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute will utilize special free zones such as Jawoldo Island in Ongjin County as performance test sites for 6G testing and demonstration. Prior to the full-scale demonstration of 6G three-dimensional communication, a demonstration of the "Temporary Network Provision Technology Based on Aerial Mobile Units for Disaster and Safety Response," which applies 5G+ technology, is planned to be conducted on Jawoldo Island.
Earlier, at the end of last year, Incheon City succeeded in the first phase of test flights of a single-seat PAV developed with domestic technology in collaboration with Sumbi, which possesses core PAV technologies.
6G wireless communication is the standard wireless communication technology following 5G, providing a communication speed of 1Tbps (terabits per second), which is 50 times faster than 5G. Since 6G is a next-generation mobile communication technology without spatial constraints, PAVs will be able to fly even in areas without communication base stations when based on this technology.
Once 6G is realized, it will enable level 5 full autonomous driving, real-time remote surgery, smart cities, and open the era of truly ultra-high-speed internet.
The government aims to realize this 6G era around 2030, leap forward as a digital infrastructure powerhouse, and enhance the competitiveness of related industries. Since 2021, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute has been leading the "6G Core Technology Development Project," and additional preliminary feasibility studies for communication technology development and standard infrastructure establishment are underway.
Jawoldo Island in Ongjin County, the 6G test complex, along with Deokjeok and Ijak Islands, has been designated as a special free zone by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, where PAV demonstration flights are being conducted. Through this demonstration, Incheon is expected to become the first future mobility city in Korea where 6G works and PAVs fly.
Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok of Incheon said, "We expect the development of mobile communication technology to lead to the resolution of social disparities and sustainable development," adding, "Using PAVs developed in Incheon and 6G, we will promote PAV Landmark City, a tourism complex resort with PAV flights and tourism and leisure."
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