SK Telecom and Nokia sign 5G deal
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SK Telecom and Nokia sign 5G deal

South Korea’s SK Telecom and Nokia Networks have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of 5G services.




The deal will see the companies jointly develop 5G technologies such as gigabit-level data transmission and next-generation cloud base stations at SK Telecom’s Bundang facility near Seoul.

An existing 5G collaboration deal between the operator and the Finnish vendor saw the creation of Cloud vRAN virtualised base station technology late last year, and the renewed deal will now focus on cmWave/mmWave wide-band communications, using frequencies of 6.5GHz and above.

“By joining hands with Nokia, we expect to accelerate our speeds towards the development of core 5G technologies,” said Choi Jin-sung, EVP and head of corporate R&D Centre at SK Telecom. 

“Envisioning an era where all things and people are originally connected, SK Telecom will continue to bring innovative changes to the mobile network structure.”

The two companies plan to demonstrate their 5G technology in 2018, and will establish a testbed in the Bundang facility in a bid to reach this goal. Nokia has also said it will set up a 5G test network in its home country.  

“The future of mobile telecommunications networks will not only connect people, but things as well,” said Hossein Moiin, head of technology and innovation at Nokia.




“In the end, 5G will further extend human potential through advanced telecommunications technologies. Together with SK Telecom, Nokia will make efforts to allow divers futuristic services to be efficiently provided through 5G technologies.”

In June last year, the EU and South Korea signed an agreement to work to together on the development of 5G standards and technology.




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