"RAPA Songdo Cluster Becomes a Testbed for Building the Radio Industry Ecosystem"

Equipped with Over 400 Facilities Including Electromagnetic Shielding Spaces
Promoting Testbeds for Next-Generation Communication Validation

"Recently, we validated a 5G 28GHz band beamforming antenna module in collaboration with Doosan Electronics. This is the first case in Korea of technical validation for a radio frequency (RF) module. In addition, we also validated ultra-wideband 6G Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) technology using new materials, together with LG Uplus and POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology)."

An image of the 10-meter-class chamber for electromagnetic compatibility testing established at the Radio Industry Cluster in Songdo by the Korea Radio Promotion Association (RAPA). Photo by Kyungjo Noh

On the afternoon of August 4, at the Korea Radio Promotion Association (RAPA) Songdo Radio Industry Cluster, reliability testing and technical validation were actively underway in every chamber (room). In another area, university students were receiving theoretical education.

Among RAPA's nine business hubs, the Songdo location integrates functions to support the radio industry, assisting in the development of 5G·6G, artificial intelligence of things (AIoT), wireless charging, and more. It also provides comprehensive technical support for performance improvement, reliability validation, and commercialization.

Park Seho, head of the RAPA IoT Technology Support Center, said, "There are not many test labs for new technologies, so we opened an open lab together with measurement companies. It is being used not only by the three major mobile carriers but also as a product validation testbed for small and medium-sized enterprises."

The Songdo Radio Industry Cluster owns around 400 pieces of equipment, including large electromagnetic shielding spaces, wireless performance measurement devices, reliability test equipment (temperature/humidity, thermal shock, vibration, etc.), and analysis instruments (measuring devices). Using these, they provided 3,310 technical support services to 652 companies as of last year.

Passing through the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test lab and rainfall (waterproof) testers to an inner area, there was a white space with repeaters from the three major telecom operators. Except for the floor, the walls and ceiling were covered with radio wave absorbers. Park explained that they were conducting performance validation of LiDAR sensors installed in traffic lights or platform safety doors.

He said, "Unlike automotive LiDAR, sensors operating in traffic lights and elevators have exposed circuits, which can cause a kind of interference. Since malfunctioning can directly affect safety, we validate them thoroughly."

Seho Park, head of the IoT Technology Support Center at the Radio Promotion Association of Korea (RAPA), is introducing verification cases related to 5G technology on the 4th at the Songdo Radio Industry Cluster. Photo by Kyungjo Noh

The chambers varied by distance, such as 3 meters and 10 meters, and the radio wave absorbers also differed in shape?some with an embossed finish, others with sharper pyramid forms?depending on the measurement distance and purpose. There was also equipment to measure how well devices supplied to telecom companies withstand unexpected situations such as drops while moving. Quality validation was also possible for unlicensed bands like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

This year, the Songdo Radio Industry Cluster will establish new testbeds, including verification equipment for 5G-based physical artificial intelligence (AI) convergence products. Based on demand surveys, an antenna chamber will also be set up by the end of the year.

Park said, "For antenna chambers, as measurement demand increased, wait times became longer, which highlighted the need for new facilities. We plan to build a chamber capable of measuring large antenna samples for defense and satellite fields." He added, "In the future, we will also promote testbeds based on real-use environments for demonstration and validation in next-generation communication fields such as 6G and satellite communication (NTN)."

Meanwhile, RAPA stated that it plans to continue providing not only technical support at the Songdo Radio Industry Cluster but also education to foster RF experts. RAPA Executive Vice President Jung Heungbo said, "We are providing tailored education for not only engineers at domestic small and venture companies but also students through MOUs with universities such as Kookmin University. Marking its 35th anniversary this year, RAPA will contribute to building an ecosystem for nurturing radio-based and convergent industries."

Antenna performance testing room set up at the Korea Radio Promotion Association (RAPA) Songdo Radio Industry Cluster. Sharp radio wave shielding materials fill the interior of the testing room. Photo by Kyungjo Noh