[MWC On-site] Top 3 Mobile Carriers Compete to Secure AI Leadership at MWC25

SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus Compete in AI at Barcelona
From Everyday AI to Data Centers

In front of 'Pira Gran Via' at the MWC25 exhibition hall visited on the 1st. Officials are busily preparing for MWC25, which will be held in Barcelona, Spain, from the 3rd to the 6th. Photo by Park Yujin

South Korea's three major mobile carriers (KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus) are targeting the global market with artificial intelligence (AI) technology. From the 3rd to the 6th, at the world's largest mobile exhibition, Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, held in Barcelona, Spain, the three companies will compete for dominance by showcasing their respective AI capabilities. KT will focus on everyday AI and 6G technology, SK Telecom on data centers and AI network infrastructure, and LG Uplus, which is opening a solo exhibition booth for the first time this year, will present a vision to change the telecommunications market landscape with its "Safe Intelligence" technology.

AI-based future daily life and cultural experience spaces are key exhibition elements for the three companies. KT offers experiences combining AI and K-culture through seven themed spaces under "K-STREET" (K-Office, K-Stadium, K-Pocha, K-House, Safety Technology, K-Pop, K-Lab). LG Uplus showcases the use of AI in 2050 through 3D animation at "ixi Future Village," where the virtual artist "Naibis" and robot "Alice" interact with visitors. SK Telecom visualizes AI vision on a 505-inch LED display and introduces startup technologies from the "K-AI Alliance."

Solutions addressing security concerns arising from AI development are also prominently featured. LG Uplus presents "OnDevice sLM" (information stored only on the device), "AntiDeepVoice" (AI voice discrimination), and "Quantum Cryptography-based Personal Information Security." KT implements a secure network environment through 5G precise positioning "ELSA," smishing and spam blocking technologies, and quantum cryptography communication technology. SK Telecom demonstrates AI-based cybersecurity solutions and real-time threat response systems.

Next-generation network infrastructure and data center solutions, core infrastructures in the AI era, are also a focus of the exhibition. Under the "AI Infrastructure Super Highway" strategy, SK Telecom proposes power control, liquid cooling, GPU resource management solutions, and a plan to implement a "Korean-style Sovereign AI" using technologies from SK Group affiliates. LG Uplus supports corporate AI transformation and improves energy efficiency with liquid cooling solutions and the "AI DCIM" operation platform. KT unveils its 6G vision combining satellite, AI, and cloud technologies, research on "semantic communication," and disaster recovery technologies.

AI-based industrial solutions and global cooperation are common strategies among the three companies in the B2B market. SK Telecom is conducting a telco LLM development project with Deutsche Telekom, E& Group, and others through the "Global Telco AI Alliance." LG Uplus offers solutions such as "AICC" (automated customer consultation) and "Vision AI" (document and video analysis), as well as development tools like "ixi APIs" and "ixi Studio." KT introduces partner company "MobaWheel's" technology, supports collaboration with SMEs through the "KT AICT Win-Win Cooperation Center," and showcases enterprise AI agent solutions.