'Korea, not US nor China, will lead 5G era'

KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu, right, poses for a photo with Apple CEO Tim Cook on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Jan. 22. / Courtesy of KT

By Jun Ji-hye

Korea is leading in fifth-generation (5G) networks as the country possesses better 5G technology and infrastructure than the United States and China, according to KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu.

KT said Sunday that Hwang made the remarks during a meeting of the International Business Council (IBC), which took place on Jan. 22 on the occasion of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

“Compared to the United States and China, Korea has better technology, services and infrastructure,” Hwang said during the meeting.

The WEF, simply known as the Davos Forum, was held in the Swiss city from Jan. 21 to 25, bringing together thousands of leaders from business, government and various other sectors. The theme for the 2019 meeting was “Globalization 4.0: Shaping a Global Architecture in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

KT said Executive Chairman of the WEF Klaus Schwab invited Hwang to be a guest at the IBC, an interactive community of 100 influential chief executives from all industries to discuss globally relevant business issues.

This marked the first time a Korean enterprise has been invited to the IBC.

Hwang emphasized the superiority of Korea's 5G technology, according to KT.

The firm said global CEOs initially thought that the United States or China would become the center of 5G, considering the two countries' disputes over a Chinese IT company, Huawei. But the CEOs recognized Korea's 5G leadership after listening to Hwang's explanation.

Huawei, representing China, has claimed it was seeking to lead 5G, but Hwang pointed out that the company is an equipment company not dealing with intelligence platforms.

Hwang said KT successfully provided the world's first 5G trial services during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in February 2018 and sent the first 5G signal on Dec. 1.

He noted the company is set to offer full-scale commercial 5G services within the first half of the year, stressing that the super-fast networks will play a role as intelligence platforms and will contribute to resolving various social problems.

“5G's ultra-connectivity and ultra-low latency characteristics will contribute to promoting welfare for human beings,” he said. “For example, ultra-low latency will help realize self-driving cars and remote medical treatment system, which will make lives safer and more convenient.”

Meanwhile, Hwang met with Apple CEO Tim Cook on the sidelines of the Davos forum.

As Hwang said Apple also needs to prepare for 5G, Cook said he would visit Korea to see the nation's 5G infrastructure firsthand.