KT expediting Internet of Small Things business
KT employees demonstrate Internet of Small Things (IoST) devices, the IoT Safety Jacket and IoT Smart Tent based on Intel’s narrowband IoT technology, at Mount Gyeryong in South Chungcheong Province, Tuesday. / Courtesy of KT
By Yoon Sung-won
KT is pushing to expand application of Internet of Small Things (IoST) services through collaboration with technology firms, apparel businesses and regional governments.
The nation’s second-largest telecom company said Monday it has demonstrated IoST services over its long-term evolution (LTE) mobile network, based on Intel’s narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) technology. Besides Intel, KT has teamed up with Nokia, Kolon Industry and Daejeon Metropolitan City for the world’s first IoST demonstration.
“Through the world’s first NB-IoT demonstration, we confirmed both the technological and business value of the new services,” said Kim Hyoung-wook, executive vice president of the KT Platform Service Planning Office, in a statement. “We will expedite establishment of a nationwide NB-IoT network and push for partnerships with more than 500 enterprises under the GiGA IoT Alliance, aiming at taking the lead in the expansion of the IoST service market.”
KT said it is working with Kolon Sport, the outdoor apparel brand of Kolon Industry, to develop what it calls the IoT Safety Jacket. The jacket embeds Intel’s NB-IoT communication module and sensors that detect unnatural movements of a user in distress and automatically transmit signals to rescuers even in remote areas with poor network infrastructure. It also has LEDs and acoustic sensors to help rescuers find the location of the missing person.
KT also demonstrated a prototype IoT Smart Tent that can detect fire in or around the tent to automatically alert people inside.
NB-IoT is one of the standard telecommunication technologies for IoT devices and services. It operates in the narrow bandwidth of 200 kHz and covers a wide area reaching more than 10 kilometers under low transmission speed. NB-IoT has been increasingly adopted for IoST in particular, as devices based on this technology consume less energy and cost less.
KT worked with Nokia last month to demonstrate equipment synchronization of base stations and NB-IoT core networks. The latest demonstration of Intel’s NB-IoT module and Kolon’s outdoor activity products is expected to help KT provide diverse IoT services through its LTE network.
“The demonstration is a very important achievement under the IoT partnership with KT,” said Andrew Cope, head of Nokia’s business in Korea. “Through partnerships, we will prove that the NB-IoT technology will realize diverse IoT services and public safety.”
Meanwhile, KT said it is also planning to cooperate with Daejeon Metropolitan City for public IoT services based on NB-IoT technology.
“Daejeon will work with KT on NB-IoT to expand urban IoT services to smart city and environmental projects,” an official at Daejeon Metropolitan City said.