KT to build 5G test RAN network with Samsung equipment

KT will lead a national project to build a 5G testbed RAN using Samsung Network’s equipment, the telco said.

The network will be built in Pangyo, Daejeon, Yeongnam and Honam sequentially by 2023.

The National Information Society Agency (NIA), a sub-agency under the Ministry of Science of ICT, is backing the project with 28.5 billion won in funding.

The testbed network will be used to test 5G equipment, handset, device and converged services, KT said.

The testbed network will also support Open RAN standards. The RAN will have both 3.5GHz and 28GHz spectrum in use.

The radio unit will be supplied Solid and FRTek. They will each provide the 3.5GHz and 28GHz equipment, respectively.

The two companies provide KT with repeaters. Innowireless will provide the access unit.

NIA said the testbed will help South Korean companies expand abroad. If the companies taking part can develop successfully related equipment to Samsung’s Open RAN ecosystem, the will likely be a Samsung supplier when the tech giant wins new orders abraod.

The four RAN points will be connected the core network of Korea Advanced Research Network, a state-run test network.