Singtel and SK Telecom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on developing next-generation telecommunications networks over the next two years. This partnership aims to drive innovation, enhance network performance and security, and deliver improved customer experiences. The collaboration will focus on utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), orchestration tools, and deepening knowledge in network virtualization, which are essential for progressing towards 6G technology.
Building on their existing cooperation as founding members of the Global Telco AI Alliance, the alliance between Singtel and SK Telecom seeks to accelerate AI innovation in the telecommunications industry.
SK Telecom and Singtel will jointly develop a white paper detailing advancements in virtualization, slicing, and network evolution to help other telcos globally leverage the capabilities of 5G and prepare for 6G.
Mr. Kang Jong-ryeol, Head of ICT Infra at SK Telecom, highlighted the collaboration as a crucial step in shaping the future of the global telecommunications industry, emphasizing the potential for advancements in next-generation communication technologies like 6G and AI infrastructure.
The partnership will focus on developing differentiated solutions to enhance network capabilities, including Edge-AI infrastructure. This technology reduces the computational burden on the cloud by performing AI inference through edge computing, thereby improving connectivity and offering unique AI services to customers. Additionally, the collaboration aims to enable faster service restoration, enhancing the overall customer experience.
They will also engage in technology and personnel exchanges across various commercial network areas to promote innovation and efficiency in the telecommunications sector.
“As a global leader in 5G technology, we’re keen to capitalize on the myriad of capabilities this technology has to offer, especially in the areas of network slicing and with the inclusion of AI. With SKT, we’re looking to not only enhance the experience of our customers but to also drive industry innovation and help us prepare for the evolution to 6G,” Deputy CEO and CEO Business Development, Singtel Singapore, Anna Yip stated in the announcement.
Together, they aim to create a fully-disaggregated mobile network, offering a more flexible, cost-effective, and scalable approach to network design and management.
The partnership will also focus on developing standardized telco application programming interfaces (APIs) through an Open Gateway, facilitating the creation of new services in areas like fintech, identity, smart mobility, gaming, and Web3.
Additionally, they plan to build efficient orchestration platforms, such as Singtel CUBE, to help enterprises automate and coordinate various network functions seamlessly. This collaboration will enhance operational efficiency and responsiveness, laying the groundwork for the 6G era.
As founding members of the Global Telco AI Alliance, SK Telecom and Singtel, along with Deutsche Telekom, e&, and SoftBank Corp., aim to accelerate AI transformation in the telco industry. In June 2024, they signed a Joint Venture (JV) agreement to co-develop and launch multilingual Large Language Models (Telco LLM) tailored to the needs of telcos.
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