KT Partners with Trimble to Launch Next-Generation Precision Location Service

Integration of Trimble RTX Fast Technology with 5G and LTE Networks

On July 10, KT announced that it has partnered with the US-based positioning technology company Trimble to launch an integrated high-precision location measurement service based on its telecommunications network.

KT has focused on developing precision location technologies and expanding partnerships since operating autonomous shuttle buses at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. Trimble is a global technology company headquartered in the United States, specializing in location-based technologies and services.

The two companies have developed a next-generation location measurement service by integrating Trimble's 'RTX Fast' technology, which corrects errors in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), with KT's 5G and LTE networks.

GNSS is a technology that determines a user's location by receiving signals from satellites around the world, and is widely used in map applications and navigation systems. However, it faces limitations in areas where satellite signals are blocked, such as tunnels, underground spaces, and inside buildings, making location measurement difficult in these environments.

Satellite signals can be delayed as they pass through the atmosphere or experience interference from buildings and terrain, resulting in errors. Therefore, correction technologies are essential for accurate location determination. By providing Trimble's high-precision location correction information via KT's network, these existing limitations can be overcome, enabling more accurate and reliable location data.

KT and Trimble plan to first apply the developed precision location technology to vehicles equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication. ADAS is a function that assists safe driving using cameras and sensors inside the vehicle, with features such as lane departure warnings and lane keeping support being representative examples.

Automakers can utilize the companies' precision location technology in the development and testing of autonomous driving technologies, from prototypes to mass-produced vehicles. This technology has obtained ASIL certification under the ISO 26262 international functional safety standard.

KT plans to expand the application of precision location technology to various IoT sectors, including smart cities, logistics, and robotics. The company also aims to advance real-time sensing and data fusion-based location information services through collaboration with global technology partners such as Trimble.