On July 8, SK Telecom (SKT) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Singtel to collaborate on next-generation communication network technologies. This strategic partnership aims to bolster their AI capabilities by integrating telecommunications with artificial intelligence, creating a global AI ecosystem.
As founding members of the “Global Telco AI Alliance,” SKT and Singtel will leverage their expertise in 4G and 5G technologies to enhance customer experience, network stability, and operational efficiency. The partnership will involve technical discussions and personnel exchanges across various commercial network domains, including mobile network engineering, construction, operation, and solutions.
The collaboration will initially focus on technical exchanges to differentiate services, encompassing the application of edge AI infrastructure, research into core network operation technologies, and the development of strategies for evolving 5G wired and wireless networks, including network slicing. Additionally, the partners aim to explore 6G application cases and build efficient networks from an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) perspective.
Edge AI infrastructure, a crucial technology in this collaboration, enhances mobile networks by offloading computational tasks from the cloud to the edge, thereby improving AI inference capabilities. SKT and Singtel will jointly promote research in this area and develop plans for delivering AI-based services resulting from this partnership.
Kang Jong-ryeol, Head of ICT Infra at SKT, highlighted the significance of this cooperation in shaping the telecommunications industry’s future. “By combining the strengths of both companies, we will achieve results in building efficient high-performance networks, providing stable services, and discovering new network-based solutions,” he stated.
Tay Yeow Lian, Managing Director of Networks at Singtel, emphasized the review of commercialization possibilities for various technologies, including network slicing and AI infrastructure. “We will pursue technological cooperation with SKT to not only enhance customer experience but also to explore new opportunities in the telecommunications sector,” he said.
This collaboration marks a pivotal step in advancing global telecommunications, setting the stage for future innovations in AI and next-generation network technologies.
