Hyundai Heavy opts for 4G, LTE network
By Yoon Ja-young
Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world’s largest shipbuilder, will be equipped with the ultra-fast fourth generation (4G), long-term evolution (LTE) network. It is expected to turn it into a “smart shipyard,” enhancing the efficiency of its work through the speedy transmission of massive data.
SK Telecom, the country’s biggest mobile carrier, will be in charge of the project. The shipbuilder and the carrier signed an agreement to set up an LTE network at Hyundai Heavy Industries’ headquarters in Ulsan, Thursday.
The carrier will set up the LTE network at the shipyard by December, which will be five times faster than the 3G network when downloading, and seven times faster in uploading. It will enable speedy transmission of large amounts of data anywhere in the 6.15 million-square-meter shipyard.
Based on the network, the shipbuilder plans to improve the work environment, adopting mobile offices, mobile intra company phones, and a comprehensive video conference system. The workers in the field will be able to download data, such as the floor plan of a gigantic ship, onto a smartphone or tablet, without having to go to the office. Those in the office can also check the work in the field through real-time video inspections. This is expected to save time through unnecessary travel as the shipyard is approximately 800 times bigger than a football field.
“We will set up the best IT infrastructure in the field, actively adapting to the changes in telecommunications technology. This will help us continue with our competitive edge as the top shipbuilder in the world,” said Hwang Si-young, chief information officer of Hyundai Heavy Industries.
The shipbuilder has been an innovator in applying communication technologies in the field. It set up a WiBro network in 2009 to control logistics, and built a smart ship in March that can be controlled from land.
SK Telecom has also been providing smart work solutions for major businesses in the country, including POSCO, Kumho Asiana and Dongbu Group.