"Experience 5G Open Lab Remotely" KT Launches 'Untact Exhibition Tour'

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] KT announced on the 15th that it will open 'FutureON' and '5G Open Lab,' which were unable to open due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), as a non-face-to-face exhibition program called the 'Untact R&D Exhibition Tour.'

FutureON is a space where visitors can directly experience innovative technologies developed by the KT Convergence Technology Institute. The 5G Open Lab is an exhibition hall equipped with an 'open collaboration and support research system' that provides 5G-related technologies and resources to small and medium-sized partner companies and shares KT's 5G technology.

In 2019, 490 domestic government agencies and companies, totaling 2,888 people, visited the KT Research and Development Center to see FutureON and the 5G Open Lab. Visitors from overseas included 623 people from 98 institutions, including ICT technology-related government agencies from the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and China, as well as major international organizations such as the World Bank Group and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

However, this year, only 8 domestic and foreign government agencies and companies, totaling 85 people, visited the KT Research and Development Center. Since the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Korea on January 24, no companies have visited FutureON or the 5G Open Lab. Although some viewing requests were made, operations were virtually suspended to maintain the KT Research and Development Center's quarantine system.

To address this, KT prepared the Untact R&D Exhibition Tour program. This program introduces FutureON and the 5G Open Lab in real-time on a 1:1 or 1:N basis (up to 20 people) using one of KT's 5G-based video communication solutions: 'Real 360,' 'Nareul,' or 'BizCollabo (beta service),' with a professional docent.

Unlike existing virtual reality exhibition halls, the Untact R&D Exhibition Tour is conducted interactively. Just like an offline exhibition, participants can request additional explanations about exhibition items and solutions or ask questions and receive answers instantly via video calls and chat at any time during the tour. Hong Kyung-pyo, head of the KT Convergence Technology Institute, said, "KT has secured world-class 5G technology capabilities and is preparing untact services through various innovative technologies and services that combine 5G with artificial intelligence." He added, "We will strive to spread Korea's advanced ICT technology worldwide through untact solutions via FutureON and the 5G Open Lab."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.