[Corporate Research Institute] Swedish Company That Installed Joseon's First Telephone... Collaborating on 6G Development 100 Years Later

Interview with Sibel Tombaz, CEO of Ericsson Korea
149 Years of Tradition: Swedish Telecommunications Company Ericsson
First Telephone Installed in 1896 During Emperor Gojong's Reign
Collaborating with Competitors for Bluetooth Standardization

After Emperor Gojong passed away in 1919, Emperor Sunjong called his father's royal tomb every morning for three years. Due to surveillance and pressure from the Japanese colonial authorities, Sunjong was unable to observe the traditional three-year mourning period for his father. Instead, he would call Hongneung, where Gojong and Empress Myeongseong were buried, and when the tomb keeper held the receiver in front of the burial mound, Sunjong would mournfully wail over the phone.

The reason Sunjong was able to observe the three-year mourning period, even by phone, was thanks to the installation of the first telephone in 1896. Although telephones were first introduced to Korea in 1882, the actual installation took place 14 years later through the Swedish telecommunications equipment company Ericsson. At that time, Ericsson installed 12 telephones in Joseon.

The origins of Ericsson trace back to 1876, when mechanical engineer Lars Magnus Ericsson established a telegraph equipment repair shop. In 1878, Ericsson began manufacturing telephone equipment, and by 1879, started selling it to Swedish households. From the late 1890s, the company began expanding its overseas business in earnest. Today, Ericsson operates in about 180 countries, including Korea.

Sibel Tombaz, CEO of Ericsson Korea, is being interviewed on the 28th at Ericsson Korea in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

Over the course of more than 100 years, as Korea has emerged as a powerhouse in information and communications technology (ICT), domestic mobile carriers have become Ericsson's key clients. In 2010, Ericsson established a joint venture in Korea with LG Electronics, and starting this year, the company has changed its name to Ericsson Korea and is working to strengthen its presence in the country.

Sibel Tombaz, who was appointed CEO of Ericsson Korea in April, recently expressed in an interview with Asia Economy her desire to support the journey of Korean mobile carriers as they move beyond 5G toward 6G. Tombaz believes that by solving the challenges faced by partners, Ericsson can also grow. In 2018, Ericsson, together with Samsung Electronics, Nokia, and Qualcomm, introduced the world's first 5G pilot service at the Pyeongchang Olympics. Tombaz emphasized, "Our goal is to provide unwavering support along the journey toward 6G and beyond, whenever it is introduced."

One of Ericsson's strengths is its ability to collaborate not only with partners but also with competitors. This is a key reason why a company that originated in Sweden, a country with a population of only 10 million, could become a global leader. When developing Bluetooth in the 1990s, Ericsson led the standardization process together with rival companies. Although the initial idea for Bluetooth came from Ericsson, it was not easy for a single telecommunications equipment company to commercialize Bluetooth globally. To ensure the success of Bluetooth, Ericsson formed an alliance with competitors after the initial development phase. Founding members included Ericsson, Intel, Nokia, IBM, and Toshiba. By collaborating with multiple companies, they expanded device compatibility, and Bluetooth became established as an open global standard.

Another secret to Ericsson's growth is its practice of investing 20% of its revenue (about 5 trillion won) in research and development (R&D). Ericsson's R&D center in Korea has begun developing next-generation 6G technologies. Tombaz explained the background for developing 6G technology in Korea, saying, "Because Korea is an ICT powerhouse, it is the fastest in adopting mobile technologies and new solutions."

A scene depicting uninterrupted live streaming enjoyment through 5G. Ericsson website

Ericsson has also developed a highly gender-equal culture, with women making up as much as 50% of its executives. The company aims for an inclusive corporate culture across all areas, including gender, age, and religion. However, Tombaz, who majored in electronic science in Turkey, recalled that when she was a university student, only 6 out of 100 students were female.

She believes that breaking stereotypes about engineering will allow more women to enter the ICT sector, which will in turn increase the number of women working in the industry. Tombaz said, "If the number of female students in the major is very low and there is an imbalance, gender imbalance in employment becomes inevitable as well," adding, "It would be great if students could participate in engineering through various programs, lectures, and educational opportunities from a young age to encourage their involvement in the field."