KT Develops AI-Based Wireless Transceiver Technology...Aims to Lead 6G Standardization

Collaboration with Qualcomm and Rohde & Schwarz
Downlink speeds improved by 50%

KT announced on the 11th that it has successfully demonstrated AI-based next-generation wireless transceiver technology in collaboration with Qualcomm, a leading global company in the wireless communication sector, and Rohde & Schwarz, a German telecommunications equipment manufacturer.

Demonstration of next-generation wireless transmission and reception technology based on artificial intelligence (AI). Provided by Korea Telecom

This technology is an AI-based channel state information (CSI) compression technology currently being promoted in 3GPP Release 20, an international standardization body. By having AI learn the wireless environment between base stations and devices, it dramatically improves the accuracy of the channel state information transmitted from the device to the base station, enabling the base station to support enhanced downlink speeds.

For this demonstration, KT and Qualcomm built a test environment that interconnected Qualcomm's next-generation Snapdragon mobile platform, which has built-in AI capabilities, with the Rohde & Schwarz AI base station system (CMX500 OBT).

KT explained that, on top of this, it further enhanced the technological completeness by applying an AI model optimized for real-world communication environments, leveraging its own 5G network operation experience and base station configuration data. As a result of the demonstration, the accuracy of wireless channel state information improved, and downlink performance was enhanced by approximately 50%.

KT evaluated this demonstration as a case that shows the practical potential of AI to improve wireless performance. It particularly emphasized that it has verified the effectiveness of 3GPP standard-based intelligent base station (AI-RAN) technology in a commercial network environment.

Building on this demonstration, KT plans to strengthen cooperation with global big tech companies to lead 6G standardization. It is also preparing for evolution toward AI-based autonomous operation networks. KT has developed and is utilizing solutions such as "AI TEMS," an AI-based optimal temperature management solution for communication centers, and "ESKIMO," a power-saving solution for base stations and servers.

Kim Sangpyo, President of Qualcomm Korea, said, "6G will become an innovation platform for expanded intelligent edge AI in the future, where AI controls network resources," adding, "Collaboration with KT is an important step in realizing this, and we expect it will accelerate the advancement of next-generation communication technologies."

Andreas Pauly, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Rohde & Schwarz, said, "We are delighted to collaborate with KT in Korea, which leads the global telecommunications market, for the future of 6G AI networks," and added, "Confirming performance improvements through AI-RAN and device solutions in this demonstration will be an important milestone for future communication technologies."

Lee Jongsik, Executive Vice President and Head of KT Future Network Research Institute, said, "6G does not simply mean faster speeds; it represents evolution toward an intelligent network that combines AI and wireless communication," and continued, "Leveraging our collaboration with global big tech companies Qualcomm and Rohde & Schwarz, KT will continue to secure wireless AI technologies."

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