SKT accelerating preparations for IoT platform business

By Yoon Sung-won

SK Telecom said Tuesday its Internet of Things (IoT) service platform has acquired global standard authentication.

The nation’s top mobile carrier, which became the first in the Korean telecom industry to have its IoT server and device platform certified globally, said it will push to enhance the IoT service landscape here.

“The global certification has proven the excellence and possibility for global market success of SK Telecom’s IoT technologies,” SK Telecom’s platform technology R&D center Executive Vice President Cha In-hyok said in a statement. “As we have established a hybrid IoT network nationwide, combining an IoT-only network and a long-term evolution machine, for the first time in the world, we will continue to push the IoT ecosystem here by discovering promising startups in the IoT sector.”

According to the telecom company, its IoT platform, named ThingPlug, has been certified by oneM2M Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) Verified.

oneM2M TTA Verified is a technology authentication program that determines if a domestic IoT platform is compatible with the global standard oneM2M.

The TTA has worked to set up authentication standards for Korean IoT services, server platforms and sensors since 2015 and has now started the authentication process on domestically made IoT platforms.

SK Telecom said its ThingPlug passed the process on April 11, earlier than the other two Korean mobile carriers ― KT and LG Uplus. In particular, the company stressed that it has become the sole telecom operator here to have not only its IoT server platform but also its device platform certified by the TTA.

“Because the compatibility between servers and devices is the core of developing IoT services and products, it is essential for both platforms to be properly verified,” the company said.

SK Telecom has chaired the Korea IoT Association and launched Korea’s first open machine-to-machine platform in 2012.