Korean-Developed 5G Small Cell Software Wins World's Best Technology Award

Ministry of Science and ICT Holds Meeting to Review Telecommunications Network R&D Achievements

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 2nd that it held a meeting to review research and development (R&D) achievements in the telecommunications network field, encouraging the recipients who won the Best Technology Award for 5G Small Cell software (SW) along with related organizations such as the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP).

Small cells are small base stations with a short communication range (cell radius), used as communication equipment to complement the coverage of existing base stations, particularly in shadow areas, densely populated urban areas, and inside buildings.

R&D Performance Review Meeting in the Field of Communication Networks
[Photo by Ministry of Science and ICT]

The awarded 5G Small Cell SW was developed by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and domestic company Ucast with a budget of 39.2 billion KRW since 2018. On the 22nd of last month, at the ‘Small Cell World Summit’ held in London, UK, it received the ‘Small Cell Forum Industry Award,’ the Best Technology Award in the field of outstanding small cell software and service technology for commercial purposes. This recognition from the ‘Small Cell Forum,’ the most prestigious institution in the small cell field, is highly significant.

Meanwhile, the telecommunications network field meeting held that day was the third meeting hosted by Hong Jin-bae, Director of the Network Policy Office at the Ministry of Science and ICT, following meetings on radio waves on the 23rd and cybersecurity on the 24th of last month to review R&D achievements in the network field. Key achievements reviewed included the ‘AI-based 4D Imaging Radar Solution,’ which won the Vehicle Intelligence and Transportation Innovation Award at CES 2022, and the ‘5G Distributed Antenna System (DAS) technology’ contracted for the London subway communication network construction project.

Hong Jin-bae, Director of the Network Policy Office at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, “Recently, Korea has taken the chairmanship of working groups such as RAN1 at the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the world’s largest mobile communication standards organization. The Best Technology Award for 5G Small Cell technology and other achievements are the results of accumulated 5G and wired/wireless network technologies being recognized overseas. We will continue to strive to maintain competitiveness as a digital infrastructure powerhouse by strengthening inter-technology linkage and supporting commercialization transitions.”