KT offers full coverage for events in Yeosu

By Cho Mu-hyun

KT, Korea’s second-largest mobile carrier, is providing domestic and international visitors of the Yeosu Expo with top quality telecommunications services.

The “Living Ocean and Coast” themed, 93-day major event is expecting over 10 million visitors from 105 different countries.

KT has a wealth of experience in providing services for massive events and vows to make sure not one user suffers a weak mobile connection.

“KT has provided responsible services for big international events such as the recent Nuclear Summit, APEC, G20 and Daegu International Marathon,” said KT Senior Vice President Lee Choong-seop.

“As the official telecommunications partner for Yeosu, we will offer perfect mobile services. We will show the excellence of Korean 4G technology and WiBRo for foreigners visiting Yeosu.”

Connected everywhere

Not only is KT covering exposition halls and 80 other facilities, it offers 3G (WCDMA) and 4G long-term evolution (LTE) WiBro and WiFi connections at airports, in downtown Yeosu and every other area in the vicinity with wireless services.

For 3G, the firm has increased its server memory 17-fold to avoid possible data explosions. It has built an additional 23 stations and 88 repeaters as of this month in exhibition halls and roads leading to the event. The network allows simultaneous use of voice services by up to 20,000 people at the same time.

KT completed its nationwide LTE network last month in only four months, the fastest among the three domestic carriers, but during that short time, they have considered Yeosu’s need for additional help to stay connected.

LTE is available on KTX bullet trains passing through Yeosu and at Yeosu Airport and 228 additional radio units are in the area.

It has built seven additional stations for WiBro, accessible everywhere in Yeosu. WiFi will be available through 200,000 access points, the highest number provide by a single company worldwide.

No hassle for organizers

Besides direct services for visitors, KT is fully backing the Yeosu Expo organizers so the event will be success, providing top-notch infrastructure, free for use by various event associates.

KT is providing 260 Internet switches and, data transfer devices and other various gadgets needed to maintain connectivity.

The company will supply around 4,300 cables; 1,400 for calls, 2,300 for high speed Internet access, 54 for broadcasts and 631 for other various purposes.

During the event, KT will open a situation room and a service desk within the exhibition. Thirty specialists are to be stationed 24 hours a day to deal with any malfunctions of mobile devices and connectivity loss.

Fourteen staff members will work closely with organizers throughout the event, and 53 engineers are to be deployed to manage the overall network. KT is also planning a call center for both organizers and visitors for any requests that are within its power to handle.

It held two emergency training sessions prior to the start of the event on Saturday, one for network security on April 27 and another for a possible data explosion on May 3. All KT personnel are briefed and ready for any data disruption that may occur.

Experience KT

Visitors can have more direct contact with KT besides just using their mobile phone during the event.

Near Expo Town, the accommodation for exhibitors, there will be ceremonies promoting KT’s now Giga level Internet services.

It will showcase this by comparing the download and upload speed of 100 megabyte and 1 gigabyte Internet access via multimedia and 3D video content.

At a KT promotion center at the expo, visitors will be able to experience NFC (near field connection) services. There people can gain access to handsets with exhibition details and for guidance. They may also register and subscribe to all services provided by KT.

Additional backing

The company is receiving assistance from sister firms.

KTN (KT Networks) will handle the maintenance of phone and Internet microphones and handsets. KTIS (KT Internet Solutions) will run a call center for various non-telecommunications problems that may arise, such as assistance in location, transportation and exhibition information.

KT Linkus will provide 19 phone booths spread out in seven designated locations where organizers expect crowds to gather and KTCS has amassed a database containing 1,345 numbers visitors may need.