SK Telecom starts 5G 28GHz mmWave testing in Seoul

SK Telecom has begun testing of 28GHz mmWave 5G communication in commercial networks in Seoul, TheElec has learned.

The carrier secured communication modules for testing that supports the spectrum earlier than competitors KT and LG Uplus, people familiar with the matter said. Testing started last month around the time SK Telecom announced that it believes mmWave spectrum was appropriate for business-to-business (B2B) applications.

Telit has supplied the modules. SK Telecom declined to comment on the matter.

SK Telecom uses Samsung-made kits for its network in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province region.

It uses Nokia’s equipment in the Southwest of the country and Ericsson’s for the Southeast region.

Qualcomm last week said a mmWave product for smart factory application has recently been launched in South Korea. This likely refers to Telit’s FN980m which uses its Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System.

LG Uplus is also expected to start testing soon as it have 28GHz spectrum equipment installed on their networks in Seoul as well. KT also has similar kits installed but when it will began testing is yet unknown.