KT said Friday that it verified communication stability for event staff by applying 5G SA (Standalone)-based network slicing technology at a World Cup street cheering event held in the Gwanghwamun area.
The demonstration was notable for logically separating the network into one for general users and another for event operations during a large-scale event drawing tens of thousands of people, creating a dedicated communication environment. In particular, KT applied the technology to the devices of actual event staff and confirmed that stable communication quality could be maintained even in congested conditions.
At large events such as street cheering gatherings, communication delays or reduced speeds can occur as users converge all at once. In response, KT allocated separate network resources to event staff and Seoul city and Jongno district officials on the 25th, providing a communication environment separated from general user traffic. Through this, essential communications such as walkie-talkie-style communication, on-site situation sharing, and emergency contact were carried out stably even in congested conditions.
Network slicing is a core technology of 5G SA that divides a single 5G network into multiple virtual networks, allocating the resources needed for each service separately. In this demonstration, KT configured a dedicated slice for event operations and compared the communication quality of slicing-enabled devices and general devices in a congested environment, verifying that safety staff could communicate stably without being affected by surrounding communication loads.
KT explained that the demonstration confirmed the potential of 5G technology to provide differentiated communication quality according to purpose, even on the same network.
"This demonstration is a case showing that 5G SA network slicing can become a new business model providing communication services tailored to customers' purposes and situations," said Kim Young-gul, executive vice president and head of KT's Customer Business Division. "Based on slicing technology, we will expand our services to various fields such as mega events, industrial sites, and public safety."
