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SK Telecom has developed a heterogeneous network integration solution. The innovative technology enables the simultaneous use of different types of networks ensuring a high-speed data service of up to 100 Mbps.
The technology, the first of its kind in the world, is capable of seamlessly integrating two heterogeneous networks, such as a third-generation (3G) service and Wi-Fi, or long-term evolution (LTE) and Wi-Fi, to provide a data service with the sum of the two network speeds.
The industry has been eyeing the technology to allow the simultaneous use of two networks of different technology specifications and frequency bands as they face limited radio resources. For instance, for high-quality video streaming, the integration solution will reduce video loading time by more than 50 percent and eliminate buffering. Moreover, customers will gain access automatically upon entering a Wi-Fi zone, without having to search for availability for each location.
The mobile carrier plans to apply this solution to enable simultaneous use of 3G and Wi-Fi networks in the second quarter of this year, which will offer a maximum speed of 60 Mbps and begin LTE and Wi-Fi integrated service in 2013 to offer a 100 Mbps ultra-high speed wireless Internet service.
The company has applied for 61 technology patents in Korea and is currently filing for patents in other countries for this project. SK Telecom will push for the standardization of heterogeneous network integration solutions through international organizations in mobile telecommunications like the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and Telecommunication Standardization Sector of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU-T), while displaying it at the Mobile World Congress 2012 in February, to highlight its leadership in next-generation network technology.
SK Telecom expects that the solution will help improve the overall 3G data communication environment as it resolves data traffic issues by increasing the use of Wi-Fi networks.
“SK Telecom will provide customers with a data service of much greater speed with its heterogeneous network integration solution, which represents an internationally top-level network operation technology,” said company Chief Technology Officer Byun Jae-woan. “By realizing the speed of fixed-line services with wireless networks, SK Telecom will allow its customers to experience a new and innovative mobile life.”
