SK Telecom-HanSuwon, Establishing Smart Plant Based on 5G Quantum Cryptography Communication

At the 'Korea's First Smart Plant Quantum Cryptography Opening Ceremony' held on the 23rd, Shin Yong-sik, Head of SK Telecom Massive IoT Business Division (second from the left), and Park Sang-hyung, Head of Digital Innovation Promotion Team at Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (third from the left), along with other officials from both companies, are taking a commemorative photo.

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Cho] SK Telecom and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) are officially launching the creation of smart plants based on 5G quantum cryptography communication.

According to SK Telecom on the 25th, the two companies completed the application of quantum cryptography communication equipment (QKD, Quantum Key Distributor) to the communication network connecting KHNP's Gyeongju headquarters and Samrangjin pumped-storage power plant office on the 23rd, and held the country's first "Smart Plant Quantum Cryptography Opening Ceremony."

This is the first domestic application of quantum cryptography communication in a commercial power plant communication network. It was promoted to enhance the security of power facilities, which require a high level of security. SK Telecom applied advanced technology from IDQ, the world's number one quantum cryptography company, to the communication network, effectively blocking hacking concerns in the relevant section.

Through this, the two companies plan to actively implement smart plants starting this year. A smart plant is a power plant that efficiently produces energy using 5G, quantum cryptography communication, artificial intelligence, and cloud technology, and enables efficient operations by integrating online and offline environments based on strong security.

Since signing the "Agreement to Strengthen ICT Competitiveness Based on the 4th Industrial Revolution" in June last year, SK Telecom and KHNP have conducted various pilot projects such as ▲building a private 5G network to prevent mobile work data leakage within power facilities ▲a PS-LTE pilot project for Unit 6 of Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant to implement a mobile work environment, laying the foundation for smart plant construction.

Going forward, SK Telecom plans to actively utilize its ICT technologies such as 5G and quantum cryptography to promote tasks including ▲applying private 5G to Paldang Hydroelectric Power Plant ▲expanding PS-LTE and implementing mobile infrastructure at nuclear power plants ▲implementing a quantum random number generator (QRNG) with dual security for transmission technology based on quantum cryptography communication and on-site mobile access.

Shin Yong-sik, Head of SK Telecom’s Massive IoT Business Division, said, “This year, advanced ICT such as 5G and quantum cryptography communication will be actively applied in the B2B sector, creating conditions for smart plant implementation. We will continue to collaborate with KHNP to innovate power facilities, which are a stable foundation for Korea’s industry and citizens’ lives.”

Park Sang-hyung, Director of KHNP’s Digital Innovation Promotion Group, said, "Smart plant implementation is the goal of KHNP’s digital transformation, and wireless communication technology functions like the nerves of digital transformation. We will complete smart plant implementation by utilizing the ICT technology of SK Telecom, a leading domestic wireless communication company.”

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