Korean operator KT has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Alcatel-Lucent that will see the companies work together on a raft of prospective 5G network technologies.
The companies will initially explore the potential of Alcatel-Lucent’s virtualised radio access network (vRAN) solution, which was shown off at this year’s Mobile World Congress. The agreement also covers access infrastructure, network functions virtualisation (NFV), and software-defined networking (SDN).
"KT recognises Alcatel-Lucent as a global leader in vRAN and SDN. We are eager to use their vRAN and SDN technol ogy to help us implement the 5G architecture that we have defined in our GiGatopia vision," Dong-Myun Lee, in a statement on Tuesday.
KT chief executive Hwang Chang-Gyu unveiled his GiGatopia vision – of a world where every device is connected via Gigabit networks – last summer.
According to South Korea’s Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, 72% of the country’s mobile subscribers were using smartphones by the end of February 2015. This healthy appetite for data services is driving Korean operators like KT to explore how they can further improve the quality of the mobile broadband experience and launch new revenue-generating services.
"We are fully aligned with KT’s vision and committed to help KT in its strategic network evolution," said Chi Il Yoo, head of Alcatel-Lucent Korea.
