[MWC26]KT to Usher in the 6G Era with AI: "Prioritizing Customer Experience Through Intelligent Networks"

AI-Driven Autonomous Network Design and Operation
Ultra-Low Latency Performance for AI Services
"Delivering Experiences Customers Can Truly Feel"

KT has unveiled its blueprint for 6th-generation (6G) networks, the next generation of mobile communications. The company aims to build a hyperconnected, ultra-reliable, and intelligent network based on artificial intelligence (AI), with the goal of delivering 6G services that customers can tangibly experience.

On March 2 (local time), KT held a press conference at Le Meridien Barcelona Hotel in Barcelona, Spain, where Mobile World Congress (MWC) is taking place, to announce its AI-era 6G vision and core technology direction.

Jongsik Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of KT Network Research Institute, is making a presentation at a press conference held on the 2nd (local time) at Le Meridien Barcelona Hotel in Barcelona, Spain. Provided by KT

Jongsik Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of KT Network Research Institute, who delivered the presentation, stated, “KT’s 6G will focus on tangible changes for customers,” adding, “the 6G proposed by KT aims to create an intelligent infrastructure that combines networks and AI.”

In the global mobile communications market, 6G is currently in the research and development (R&D) phase for standardization. The industry expects that the standard for 6G will be established around August 2029. However, even after the standard is set, it will take additional time for full commercialization.

KT defined 6G as an “integrated infrastructure with an organic interconnection structure” that enables AI to operate reliably. The core of KT’s 6G is “AI for networks” and “networks for AI.” This means that KT intends to both operate networks intelligently through AI and guarantee the ultra-low latency and ultra-high reliability performance required by AI services at the network level.

KT has identified hyperconnectivity, ultra-low latency, quantum-safe security, AI-native, autonomous networks, and semantic communications as the main technologies for 6G, and is working to concretize these elements. First, to achieve hyperconnectivity, KT plans to establish three-dimensional coverage that encompasses land, sea, and air. For ultra-low latency—a key element for seamless services—the entire infrastructure, including devices, wireless networks, and backbone networks connecting AI data centers, will be designed with ultra-low latency structures.

Additionally, KT will apply its proprietary quantum-safe technology to the 6G network to enhance security. The company will design 6G as an AI-native network, fundamentally transforming its network operation into an autonomous model. As a new communication method in the 6G era, KT proposed semantic communications, which refers to selectively transmitting only the key information tailored to a given purpose instead of sending all data.

KT also emphasized that it is well positioned for the introduction of 6G. Among Korean mobile carriers, KT is the only one to have partially commercialized 5G standalone mode (SA), which is considered a prerequisite for key 6G technologies such as network slicing, ultra-low latency services, and AI-based network control. The company’s experience with satellite services through KT SAT is also an advantage, as combining terrestrial mobile networks with satellite infrastructure will facilitate the development of three-dimensional 6G coverage.

KT plans to continue building its 6G capabilities by integrating AI, satellite, and security technologies, and will continue to release its core technologies. Jongsik Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of KT Network Research Institute, said, “While the commercialization of 5G was driven by a race for speed, including the PyeongChang pilot service and the world’s first commercial launch, with 6G, we will focus on delivering tangible customer experiences and creating new market opportunities.”

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