Nationwide network for IoT is going to be open to public by end of this year. To counter against SK Telecom’s plan to install its private network in all of South Korea, KT is going to commercialize LTE-M, which is an IoT technology based on LTE, by end of this year. It is predicted that ecosystem of South Korea’s IoT will start to expand as IoT, which is usually used in households and indoors, is starting to be used in outdoors due to its advantages in low power and long distance.
KT made an announcement on the 16th that it is going to hold a business briefing session on the 29th for its partners for LTE-M (Machine Type Communication). LTE-M is an IoT that uses LTM. Unlike LTE for mobile telecommunication that has download speed of hundreds of Mbps, its speed is less than 10Mbps.
It is type of IoST that increases life of batteries and lowers prices of chips and devices by sending small amount of data in KB unit. Although its speed is slow, it can implement IoT service in all of South Korea since it has wide communication coverage. Briefing session is going to be held to explain about KT’s strategies in IoT business and to discuss about cooperation plans. Although KT avoided about mentioning any exact timeframe on when this service is going to be commercialized, industries predict that it will be sometime in June.
Because LTE-M uses current LTE network and frequency, it can be equipped with nationwide network with just software (SW) upgrade. It also has high level of stability since it uses LTE network and technologies that are already verified. Prices of devices and modems are also expected to be lowered as technologies continue to develop.
If LTE-M is commercialized, variety of services that are not able to be implemented with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and ZWave that are usually used in households and indoors can be made possible. It can provide all of IoT services with just wireless network. LTE-M is mostly used to track supplies that are based on location positioning, to read energy meter, to manage waste and facilities, to prevent missing child and other fields.
Sensors can be installed in places such as dams, remote areas in mountains, tall buildings, and suburbs where it is difficult to approach and reduce personnel expense and increase efficiency in management. Because LTE-M uses PSM (Power Saving Mode) that increase life of IoT device’s battery, which is under a month, to more than 10 years, maintenance is very easy.
“We are going to push for IoST business based on LTE-M, which is a standard communication technology, and are also going to work hard in providing comprehensive Giga-IoT infrastructures that put together device network platforms that are appropriate for IoST business so that our customers can receive optimum services.” said a representative for KT.
To KT’s plan, SK Telecom made an announcement that it will establish a nationwide network by end of this year just for IoT and it will use a technology called ‘LoRa’. Just like LTE-M, LoRa is a technology with advantages in low power and long distance and is optimized for IoT. KT had already finished selecting partners that will establish network along with base stations. SK Telecom is going to strengthen relationship with its partners so that venture and start-up companies can display their abilities.
If SK Telecom and KT start nationwide network services, it will give boost in vitalizing South Korea’s IoT ecosystem. It is expected that communication device markets, which are currently in a slump, will be vitalized as related device, solution, and service markets grow together.
Staff Reporter An, Hochun | hcan@etnews.com