KT announced on the 2nd that it has signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) with NVIDIA, Samsung Electronics, SK Telecom, LG Uplus, ETRI (the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute), Yonsei University, and others for the joint research and development of AI-RAN (Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Network) technology and services, as well as their global expansion. AI-RAN is a next-generation communication network technology that analyzes traffic data exchanged between base stations and network servers in real time to provide an optimal network environment.
KT stated, “This agreement aims to foster South Korea as a global hub for AI-RAN while contributing to the commercialization and international standardization of AI network technology.” It added, “The collaboration is significant as it establishes a comprehensive cooperation framework encompassing joint research and development, verification, global expansion, and international standardization, involving major domestic and international companies and research institutions.” NVIDIA, KT, and others plan to promote various activities, including phased cooperation, joint working group operations, and the establishment of a verification testbed, to commercialize AI-RAN technology and enter global markets.
Earlier, KT joined the AI-RAN Alliance in January and began full-scale research and development activities on AI-native network technology. The alliance, which includes global telecom operators, IT companies, and academia, aims to drive next-generation network innovation and standardization by integrating AI and radio access network (RAN) technologies. Currently, over 110 member companies, including NVIDIA and SoftBank, are collaborating.
In September, KT proposed a “user-customized mobility and connection stabilization” technology, jointly developed with Samsung Electronics, as a new research item to the AI-RAN Alliance’s “Working Group 1” (a group researching technologies that directly enhance RAN performance and efficiency through AI). The technology analyzes users’ movement paths and network environments in real time via AI to predict potential issues and automatically apply optimal network settings for each user. Designed to overcome the limitations of existing cell-based configurations, it ensures stable and fast communication quality across diverse environments. KT plans to present its research and verification results at the AI-RAN Alliance’s general meeting in Boston, U.S., in early November.
Additionally, KT completed a verification in August, the first in South Korea, applying AI-RAN technology to a commercial 5G network to improve customer-perceived speed quality. Through the Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement (SCFA), Asia’s largest telecom operator strategy council, KT has also strengthened cooperation with NTT Docomo and China Mobile in the AI-native network field, continuing global research collaborations.
Lee Jong-sik, head of KT’s Future Network Research Institute (executive director), said, “Through this MOU and AI-RAN Alliance activities, KT will lead global network innovation and accelerate the development of AI-based next-generation communication infrastructure in preparation for the 6G era.” He added, “We will continue to work closely with key domestic and international partners to take the lead in commercializing and globally expanding AI network technology.”
