SK Telecom, South Korea’s top mobile carrier, announced on Monday that it would create an interactive remote education service using artificial intelligence (AI) technology via 5G network mobile service. SK Telecom would offer the service by early next year. The remote education service would cater to students staying at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recently, schools allowed students to attend alternate offline classes on September 21, during which other students join remote classroom activities. The third-year high school students could study in a school in preparation for their state university entrance examinations.
SK Telecom collaborated with the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education to participate in the National Information Society Agency (NIA) program. The company would develop a two-way interactive remote classroom to 200,000 students in Gwanju by the end of this year. The service would include SKT’s existing video conference platform named MeetUs, which would deploy at 312 schools in the city.
Post-Coronavirus Educational Setting
According to the company, the service would use 5G and AI technology to guarantee enhanced-quality video conferences. The service would come equipped with voice recognition, programs for surveys and tests, and interactive communication between students and teachers.
SK Telecom intends to release the service in South Korea for the first semester in March next year.
An SK Telecom official said the company aspires to become a contributor to establishing the post-corona educational setting. The coronavirus pandemic left students and teachers without any alternative but to utilize remote classroom services.
SK Telecom’s statement comes in response to the South Korean government’s strict policies on social distancing. South Korea introduced a blended-type classroom setting that includes virtual and in-person classes to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
Other telecom operators now also participate in the remote education market in line with South Korea’s social distancing measures. Earlier this month, LG Uplus Corp. also introduced a mobile education app intended for elementary school students.
