Ministry Of Science And ICT Launches 5G Standalone Transition...Holds Kickoff Meeting

Using a dedicated 5G core network... Faster speeds and improved battery efficiency
"We will actively support pilot projects and improvements to related systems"

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 26th that it held a kickoff meeting for the 5G Standalone (SA) Task Force in Jung-gu, Seoul, together with experts from industry, academia, and research institutes.

At the end of last year, the Ministry of Science and ICT presented the expansion of 5G SA by 2026 as one of the key tasks in mobile communications through its Hyper AI (Artificial Intelligence) Network Strategy. To this end, it is preparing for a full-scale transition by imposing the shift to 5G SA as a mandatory condition for the reallocation of mobile communication frequencies.

Ministry of Science and ICT logo.

5G SA is an independent 5G network architecture that uses a dedicated 5G core network, unlike Non-Standalone (NSA) mode, which relies on existing 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks together with 5G. 5G SA supports key capabilities such as ultra-low latency, network slicing, and high-speed data transmission. Currently in Korea, only KT has partially commercialized 5G SA.

Compared to the NSA approach, 5G SA offers higher upload and download speeds while improving battery efficiency for user devices. By leveraging network slicing technology, it can provide specialized services in areas such as public safety and emergency situations. It can also be used to enhance services in future industrial sectors that require real-time data processing and ultra-low latency, including autonomous driving, smart cities, and remote healthcare.

The task force was established to deliver tangible outcomes by supporting telecom operators in a stable transition to 5G SA and by promoting the creation of services that utilize the specific features of SA. The kickoff meeting was attended by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the three mobile carriers, equipment manufacturers, academia, and research institutes.

They shared the goals of achieving a stable transition to 5G SA without service interruptions or quality degradation and of creating new services based on SA, and agreed to work closely together to achieve these objectives.

The task force plans to make this year the first year of the 5G SA transition and to lead active participation and cooperation from various sectors, including industry, academia, and research institutes.

Choi Woo-hyuk, Director General of the Network Policy Directorate at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "The full-scale rollout of 5G SA to provide better 5G services as a bridge toward 6G will become an important foundation for future industrial innovation and strengthening national competitiveness," adding, "We will actively support pilot projects and improvements to related systems so that we can achieve a stable transition to 5G SA this year and create business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) services that the public can tangibly experience."