[Edaily Reporter Han Kwangbeom ] KTCorporation has successfully ensured communication stability by utilizing core 5G technology at a large-scale downtown event attended by tens of thousands of people.

KTCorporation(030200)KT announced on the 28th that it conducted a proof-of-concept test on the 25th at the World Cup street cheering event held in the Gwanghwamun area, applying “5G SA (Standalone)”-based “network slicing” technology to ensure stable communication for event staff.

This pilot is significant because it successfully implemented a dedicated communication environment for event operations by segmenting the communication network using 5G network slicing technology in an extreme urban environment where massive crowds caused a surge in traffic. Going beyond a simple technology demonstration, the company completed on-site verification by applying the technology to the devices of actual event staff.

Generally, at mega-events such as World Cup street cheering events, traffic concentrates at specific times and locations, making it easy for communication delays or slowdowns to occur. To ensure there were no gaps in event operations or safety management even under such congested conditions, KTCorporation allocated separate network resources to event staff, as well as officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Jongno-gu District. This created a communication environment that was logically and completely isolated from general user traffic. As a result, essential communication functions—such as walkie-talkie-style communication, real-time situation sharing, and emergency response coordination—were maintained reliably.

Network slicing is a core technology of 5G SA that divides a single physical 5G network into multiple virtual networks to allocate customized resources for each service. Its most significant feature is the ability to guarantee communication quality for specific purposes even during periods of heavy traffic.

In this demonstration, KTCorporation separated and allocated network resources according to the event’s operational needs, then compared and verified the difference in communication quality between devices using network slicing and standard devices. The results confirmed that safety personnel could secure stable communication channels even during emergencies without being affected by surrounding network traffic. This demonstrated the potential of 5G technology to provide differentiated communication quality based on specific purposes, even within the same network environment.

KTCorporation has been continuously developing technologies to ensure communication stability at disaster sites and other locations, and through this demonstration, it has expanded this capability to large-scale everyday event environments. Additionally, the company explored the potential for application across various industries and service areas.

Kim Young-geol, Executive Vice President and Head of KTCorporation’s Customer Business Division, stated, “This demonstration marks the starting point showing that 5G SA network slicing can evolve beyond simple network segmentation into a new business model that designs and provides communications tailored to customers’ purposes and situations.” He added, “Based on slicing technology, we will provide new solutions in the B2B and B2C sectors and expand the value of communications into various fields, including mega-events, industrial sites, and public safety.”