[Q&A] SKT: "When UAM is commercialized, it can be used for medical emergencies like heart transplants and urgent situations"

Haminyong SKT Chief Digital Officer (CDO)
Explains at 2022 Busan Motor Show Press Conference

Hamin-yong, Chief Digital Officer (CDO) of SK Telecom, is explaining the UAM strategy of the SK Telecom consortium at the "SK Telecom UAM Business Promotion Plan and Status Briefing" held at the "2022 Busan International Motor Show" on the 15th. Photo by SK Telecom

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] SK Telecom has proposed tourism, logistics, and medical demand as utilization plans for Urban Air Mobility (UAM), the so-called "flying taxi," targeting commercialization in 2025. The company plans to accumulate sufficient transportation experience over 2 to 3 years or more to gain social trust to the extent that it can transport people.

Ha Min-yong, Chief Development Officer (CDO) of SK Telecom, said at a press conference held on the 15th at the "2022 Busan International Motor Show," "It can be used for purposes such as logistics or heart transplant surgeries, where it can be faster than transportation by car. If this is accepted, it can serve as a transportation means for people."

Ha CDO added, "In the future, customers will be able to easily book UAM tickets and travel through platforms like T map Mobility, experiencing something new. It will be a completely new form of mobility where people can work or enjoy entertainment."

Below is a Q&A with Ha Min-yong CDO and Lee Seok-geon, UAM Business Promotion Team Leader.

- Please explain SK Telecom's exhibition concept at this Busan International Motor Show.

▲ The exhibition concept this time was content where you can experience the future of Busan in 2030 through a 4D metaverse. It was designed to make visitors feel as if they were boarding the future Busan, with added attraction elements for fun.

- What regulations need to be lifted to activate the UAM business?

▲ It is expected to take the form of a special law by the National Assembly. We are requesting that it be realized according to UAM. However, we are not asking to abolish the current system.

- There are many certification procedures required; how will you resolve this?

▲ In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to certify UAM at the same level as aircraft. Type Certification (TC) and production certification will need to be done in the U.S., and in Korea, rather than doing exactly what the U.S. did, there is a system where certification from the counterpart country is recognized, which we plan to use. Further discussions are needed on how EVTOL will be handled.

- How is the preparation of communication technology necessary for UAM, such as low Earth orbit satellites, progressing?

▲ Regarding communication network construction, we are building the communication network needed for phase 1 of the GC project in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, in collaboration with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. The network covers about 21 km, and the infrastructure organization will handle it. Once the service starts, there will be moving sections, so adjustments will be made to ensure the 5G network covers the airspace. If routes are established, communication infrastructure will be built as needed, and it is expected that existing networks will be sufficient. Flying vehicles over the Goheung communication network will help identify necessary elements, which will be supplemented based on that, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will likely issue requirements.

- The three telecom companies competing for GC-related communication; what are the strengths of the SK Telecom consortium besides the airframe partners?

▲ Among the three elements of UAM, the airframe side is the most important for safety and feasibility, so we often mention Joby. The SK Telecom consortium has proposed additional items not required by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, such as linking with T map Mobility to offer customers various services. Also, partners like Hanwha Systems and Korea Airports Corporation are traditional strong players in areas like air traffic control, not newly emerged startups, so we believe they will deliver good results.

- Some competing consortia include operators with flight experience, such as Korean Air. Do you see your competitiveness compared to them?

▲ Consortia with flight experience have a significant advantage. SK Telecom is also in discussions with other operators; it is not impossible, but we are considering it over time. Internally, there is debate about whether it must be an existing airline, and we are discussing accumulating our own capabilities. We also have plans to secure partnerships and aim to prepare measures within this year or soon. Entering daily life is a challenging task even for airlines. Joby, with which we have a partnership, has already obtained Part 1 and 3 flight qualifications and will have flight experience, which we believe will be a great help.

- You mentioned charging using batteries; are there limitations such as charging speed?

▲ For electric vehicles, slow charging and charging infrastructure are important. Vertiports will be charging takeoff and landing systems for UAM. The technical limit is about 350kW, but we believe it can be sufficiently increased to the MW level. Currently, battery companies focus on electric vehicles, but once breakthroughs occur in one or two places, charging speed and other aspects will improve. One charge can allow about five or six round trips between Yeouido and Gimpo Airport, so deploying other aircraft is also an option.

- What services are you planning to offer at the time of service launch?

▲ From the perspective of social acceptance, there will be demand for medical and logistics uses even if people do not ride. Instead of introducing hundreds of aircraft from the start, we will introduce a small number and gain confidence in transporting people. Initially, it can be used for logistics or urgent heart transplant surgeries, where it can be faster than car transport. If accepted, it will serve as a transportation means.

- Is there a possibility of including UAM in subscription services like 'T Universe'?

▲ It is uncertain whether services not yet launched will be included. Even if commercialization occurs in 2025, full activation will likely be afterward. It is something we can consider.

- What level of fare do you expect?

▲ Four people ride one aircraft. Considering vertiport and usage fees for one aircraft, the situation in Korea may be somewhat different. It will be compared to existing public transportation fare systems and is expected to be a substitute. It can be compared to urban airports, and ultimately, time rationalizes the fare. By the time we commercialize, fare systems will likely be introduced in the U.S., which will serve as a good reference.

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