SKT, Shinsegae to create 5G-powered retail shop

Yoon Won-young, right, in charge of media business at SK Telecom, and Shinsegae I&C CEO Kim Jang-wook pose for a photo after signing an MOU to develop 5G-based shopping services at Shinsegae I&C's headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of SK Telecom

By Jun Ji-hye

SK Telecom and the nation's retail conglomerate Shinsegae Group have joined forces to develop new business models and innovative services in the logistics and distribution sectors powered by fifth-generation (5G) networks, the telecom company said Tuesday.

Toward that end, a trilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between SK Telecom, SK Broadband and Shinsegae I&C, the firm noted.

SK Broadband is a fixed-line affiliate of the nation's top mobile carrier, while Shinsegae I&C is Shinsegae's systems integration arm.

Under the MOU, the three companies will jointly develop 5G-based business models that can be applied to Shinsegae's department stores and discount store chain E-Mart as well as various shopping malls.

The companies will also come up with various forms of future services for customers.

SK Telecom said it will mobilize its new information and communications technologies as well as 5G capabilities to innovate the logistics and distribution sector.

The firm said its technological prowess will create synergy with Shinsegae's knowhow gained from its distribution experience.

The telecom firm said users will be able to visit high-tech stores offering new, convenient services starting from the parking lot to the checkout counter as it plans to utilize a variety of new technologies powered by 5G, including mobile edge computing (MEC), big data, image analysis, and virtual (VR) and augmented reality.

For example, customers will not need to visit physical stores and instead shop through a digital platform using VR technology.

The three firms will also develop an advanced system that recommends items based on customers' previous purchases.

SK Telecom noted the three companies are considering cooperating in the cloud PC distribution business as SK Broadband launched a cloud PC service mounted with its own technology for the first among domestic telecommunications companies, March 10.

A cloud PC service offers a personalized computing environment, enabling an individual to have a virtual desktop interface accessible from anywhere. Users can connect to their PCs on any device with internet access as the service allows remote desktop capability.

"We will offer distinguished systems, based on our advanced information and communications technologies, to various industries," said Yoon Won-young in charge of media business at SK Telecom.

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