South Korean wireless telecommunications operator, SK Telecom has announced that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) Authority to build 5G-based self-driving infrastructure.
Designated as Korea’s first free economic zone on August 11, 2003, IFEZ consists of Songdo, Yeongjong and Cheongna International Cities with a total size of 132.9 km².
SK Telecom aims to create an HD map covering the entire IFEZ area starting with Songdo International City. The HD map is a machine-readable map with centimeter-level accuracy, that should offer essential information for self-driving, including lanes, road conditions, speed limits and road slopes.
The company states that the HD map is regarded as a key element for achieving Level 4 of autonomy for autonomous vehicles as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers.
The HD map is to be built with ‘Dynamic Data Platform,’ a 5G-based real-time update solution for HD maps. Dynamic Data Platform automatically updates HD maps upon receiving road observation data from Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) over 5G network.
SK Telecom plans to install ADAS and 5G communication modules to public transport vehicles and official/government cars in the IFEZ area to detect all changes in the road environment.
Park Jin-hyo, the Chief Technology Officer of SK Telecom said, ‘The core of 5G lies in its power to transform all industries to deliver unprecedented value to people’s daily lives.’
‘We will work closely with the IFEZ Authority to accelerate IFEZ’s transition to a smart city powered by SK Telecom’s 5G network and mobility technologies,’ added Jin-hyo.
