SKT, KT, LGU+ use drones for 5G service
An official transmits images filmed by drones at a construction site in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, to Hyundai Construction Equipment's office in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, and an exhibition hall in Munich during a demonstration conducted jointly by SK Telecom, Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Hyundai Construction Equipment in Baumam, April 8. / Courtesy of SK Telecom
By Jun Ji-hye
SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus are actively utilizing drones as a means of expanding their newly launched fifth-generation (5G) network services and to fuel future growth engines, officials said Thursday.
Drones have a variety of uses such as in disaster management and rainmaking. The global drone market is currently dominated by Chinese companies such as DJI.
Officials here said drones can create many more opportunities when they are connected to a 5G network that offer super-fast wireless connection speeds and low latency as well as the ability to connect many devices.
Though mobile carriers here need to do a lot of work, including complying with regulations, before offering drone services, they have already been carrying out various projects utilizing them.
SK Telecom has recently completed the development of automatic control technology aimed at remotely monitoring construction sites, in cooperation with Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Hyundai Construction Equipment.
The nation's top mobile carrier said it installed its real-time video control system T Live Caster on drones designed for construction sites, noting that the technology will open a new era of “smart construction” in which communication between head offices and construction sites will be significantly improved.
“Once the 5G infrastructure is expanded, drone technology will be able to be applied to more diverse industries,” said Choi Nak-hoon who heads the 5GX IoT and data group at SK Telecom.
KT signed a business agreement with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), April 26, to jointly develop 5G-powered technologies for acrobatic drones.
Under the agreement, the two parties will join hands in vitalizing 5G-based drone use and setting up a big data analytics system.
They will also work on technology convergence between the 5G networks and the aviation sector.
“Beginning with the development of 5G-based drone flying techniques, we will continue to cooperate with KARI so drones can be utilized in various areas such as improving rescue operations and transportation,” said Yun Hye-jeong, executive vice president who heads a big data business support unit at KT.
The telecom firm has also developed the Skyship disaster and safety management platform.
The Skyship platform, designed to reduce the response time for search and rescue operations in the early stages, comprises an unmanned airship, called Skyship, and a C3 (command, control and communication) station as well as drones and robots.
KT's unmanned airship, Skyship, demonstrates how it would respond to a marine accident. / Courtesy of KT
LG Uplus has been also active in carrying out drone projects in cooperation with local drone companies such as Usis and We Make Drone.
On April 17, the mobile carrier and the Army's 31st Infantry Division demonstrated a smart drone developed for military purposes in waters off the southern city of Yeosu, South Jeolla Province.
During maritime training, the U+ Smart Drone powered by 5G networks was used to search the seashore and respond to emergencies in real time.
An LG Uplus smart drone developed for military purposes is used in maritime training in seas off the southern city of Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, April 16. / Courtesy of LG Uplus
An LG Uplus official said the 5G-based drone allows for an immediate reaction in emergencies.
“We will continue to expand drone applications,” the official said.