SK Telecom and Nokia Networks opened a 5G research and development center at Nokia Networks’ Korean office.

Telecom researchers from the two companies will study and develop core 5G technologies, including gigabit-level data transmission technology and cloud-based virtualized base stations, at the 5G center.

SK Telecom in a statement said that it will also open a test bed within the end of 2015 to verify and demonstrate 5G technologies.
SK Telecom and Nokia Networks are gearing up for the 5G pilot service demonstration in 2018. The commercial deployment of 5G is expected in 2020.

“SK Telecom is spearheading the efforts to develop 5G enabling technologies and architecture to flawlessly support high-speed transmission of massive data, including immersive multimedia contents,” said Alex Jin-sung Choi, chief technology officer of SK Telecom.

SK Telecom and Nokia Networks have verified the performance of the co-developed technologies for hybrid core network architecture for 5G.

The physical separation of control plane and user plane of the LTE core network architecture, which was verified by SK Telecom and Nokia Networks, is an essential technique for building hybrid core network architecture that offers benefits of both centralized and distributed network models.

With the technology, the core network architecture is restructured into a hybrid network model with distributed user plane functions, controlled by centralized control plane functions for optimal delivery of massive data.

The core network can be described as the control tower of telecom network, performing important features to provide services including user authentication, voice calls, and Internet connectivity. SK Telecom said renovations on core network architecture are one of the keys to the implementation and commercialization of 5G.

Source: Telecom Lead