Mobile Carriers Continue 'Decentralization'... AI Big Tech and DigiCo Declarations (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] The three major mobile carriers continue their 탈(Tal, meaning "escape" or "departure")-telecommunication initiatives in the new year of the Year of the Black Tiger. With the mobile market virtually saturated, their strategy is to increase the proportion of future new businesses that will become sources of revenue (cash cows), such as media and robotics. At the center of this is the so-called 'ABC' capabilities, which combine 5G networks with artificial intelligence (AI), big data (BiG Data), and cloud technology. In this process, the three carriers also emphasized their policy to focus on 'customer needs.'

Jung-ho Park, CEO of SK Telecom

◆ SKT Declares Itself an AI Big Tech Company

According to industry sources on the 4th, Park Jung-ho, Vice Chairman of SK Telecom, emphasized the all-encompassing spread of AI during the SK ICT family companies' New Year's greeting event held online on the first working day of the new year, stating that "AI must become the foundation for innovation in all company operations and customer services." The goal is to leap forward as a beloved big tech company through AI innovation.

Vice Chairman Park said, "We have already applied AI to many services, but it is not yet perfect," adding, "We must provide AI-based solutions optimized for customer needs according to the situation." Believing that AI will serve as the foundational platform for all businesses in the future, Park reorganized existing core technology teams around AI in the year-end organizational restructuring.

Additionally, Vice Chairman Park emphasized super-collaboration and openness between different businesses in the 'post-COVID' era. Having successfully established super-collaboration with global giants like Amazon last year, he explained, "We cannot become the best with our own story and capabilities alone," and stressed the need for open collaboration that boldly partners with domestic and international companies across various fields.

He also did not overlook the social responsibility of a big tech company. A representative example is the environment, social, and governance (ESG) management that SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has emphasized in recent years. Vice Chairman Park mentioned the importance of ESG management, saying, "Let's explore ways to help those struggling during the pandemic through our ICT capabilities. We must become a big tech company loved by society and stakeholders."

Koo Hyun-mo, CEO of KT

◆ KT's Shift to Digico: "Ready to Challenge New Businesses"

KT also emphasized its transformation from a 'telecom operator' to a digital platform company (Digico). This year is seen as decisive for the next decade's future depending on how it is spent.

On the morning of the same day, KT CEO Koo Hyun-mo attended the 'Live Online New Year's Ceremony' themed 'Digico We All Create Together,' stating, "We must confidently and firmly transform from the existing framework of a telecom operator into a digital platform company."

He viewed the current rush for digital transformation across all companies and industries as a great opportunity, saying, "If we can meet the needs of other industries based on differentiated AI, big data, and cloud competitiveness, new growth will be possible." He also mentioned, "Growth in existing core industries is important, and we are ready to challenge new businesses with large market size and growth potential such as media/content, robotics, and bio-healthcare."

CEO Koo particularly emphasized, "Unlike ordinary large companies, KT must take the lead when the nation and society face difficulties," and stressed the need to become a leading company that creates breakthroughs in innovation. He also identified 'customer-centric thinking' and 'changes in working methods' as management keywords, stating, "The customer is the starting point and standard of how we work."

Hwang Hyun-sik, President of LG Uplus

◆ Announcement of the Launch of the Hwang Hyun-sik Administration: "Let's Make True Fans"

Hwang Hyun-sik, President of LG Uplus, who is about to officially take office, also announced the launch of the customer-centric Hwang Hyun-sik administration through a New Year's message video on the same day. Filmed at 'Ilsang Bi Ilsang-ui Teum,' a popular complex cultural space in Gangnam among the MZ generation, he said, "The beginning of all change is the customer," and urged, "All our employees must focus on customers and, in other words, be 'crazy' about customers." He added, "We must provide a level of quality that exceeds customer expectations," emphasizing that activities meeting customer demands should be the top priority.

President Hwang particularly cited 'qualitative growth' as what is needed for new growth. This refers to focusing more on improving customer value, the essence of the business, and growing in a way that customers recognize that value. He reiterated, "We must focus on improving customer value, the essence of the telecommunications business, and create 'true fans' who promote our services to those around them. It is necessary to analyze customer desires in detail and specifically extract what target customers want." As a sales expert, he added that sales should also focus on delivering customer value rather than price.

Along with this, President Hwang also called for creating new growth engines such as smart factories and autonomous driving. Specifically, he explained that in the consumer business, the company should expand into related businesses like advertising and subscription services through competitive content and customer data, and in the enterprise business, it should secure competitive solutions in areas such as smart factories and autonomous driving to create a virtuous cycle of commercialization. Earlier, President Hwang had announced his intention to personally oversee new businesses by establishing a new business promotion division in the year-end organizational restructuring last year.

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