SK Telecom is planning to transfer Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) technology, which is a key infrastructure in 5G mobile telecommunication era, to foreign telecommunication businesses.
SK Telecom launched ‘Global MEC Task Force’ on Jan. 13, along with five companies --Singapore Singtel, Philippines Globe, Taiwan Mobile, and Hong Kong-based HKT and PCCW Global (Hong Kong) -- affiliated with the association of Asian and Pacific telecommunications companies called Bridge Alliance.
MEC is a key infrastructure in 5G era that installs small data centers close to customers and reduces data transmission intervals to enable ultra-low delay services. It is needed to continuously stream large-capacity contents such as AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) as well as services that are core to immediate effect such as self-driving or telemedicine.
The global MEC TF was formed when Bridge Alliance requested SK Telecom, which succeeded in commercializing 5G and establishing MEC, for the first time in the world, to transfer its technology, and telecommunication companies from each country joined it.
The establishment of the super-cooperation system is meaningful in that the 5G MEC ecosystem in Asia was established with Korean technology at the center, and that a pathway was opened to export 5G technologies and services to relevant countries.
SK Telecom is preparing a solution package that includes MEC to export 5G core technologies overseas. The first workshop of the global MEC TF will be held at SK Telecom's office building in Eulji-ro, Seoul, from July 13-15.
"As about 350 telecommunication businesses are preparing to commercialize 5G by the end of this year, there are a lot of requests to work with our company on 5G and MEC," said Lee Kang-won, head of Cloud Labs at SK Telecom.
