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| SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho, left, shakes hands with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella during their recent meeting in this photo provided by SK Telecom, Monday. / Courtesy of SK Telecom |
By Jun Ji-hye
SK Telecom has been working with Microsoft to combine fifth-generation (5G) networks with cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to explore new business opportunities, the nation's top mobile carrier said Monday.
The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the American technology firm to implement the Joint Innovation Program, its comprehensive strategic partnership program aimed at exploring sustainable and innovative business opportunities with partners in various areas.
Under the MOU, the two companies plan to jointly push for internet of things (IoT)-related business such as smart factories.
The two sides will also join forces to enhance their competitiveness in AI technologies and related services as well as media and entertainment services.
The mobile carrier said a combination of its new information and communications technologies including 5G and AI, and Microsoft's advanced cloud computing and AI technologies will create synergy.
"It is essential to form cooperation with global companies like Microsoft to take the leadership in the bitterly contested 5G market," SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho said. "We will give our full efforts to create new value through a combination of the capabilities of the two companies."
SK Telecom and Microsoft already signed a business partnership in February for cooperation in the smart factory business. Under the partnership, development and updates of the former's big data system Metatron will be carried out on the latter's cloud platform Azure.
The two firms will continue to expand their cooperation to more diverse IoT areas.
In order to enhance their competitive edge in AI, the two will push to develop distinguished products and services by combining SK Telecom's NUGU AI platform and Microsoft's AI platform Cortana.
The two firms will continue discussions to promote innovation together in the media and entertainment areas.
They will also join forces to innovate the way their employees work. SK Telecom said it will adopt Microsoft 365, the U.S. firm's cloud platform, which "empowers everyone to be creative and work together securely."
