KT, SK Telecom to deploy public safety networks in South Korea
South Korean operator KT was selected as a preferred bidder to build a government-led public safety network in major areas including Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.
SK Telecom was also selected as a preferred bidder, but it will build the network in fewer areas, The Korea Times reports. The LTE-based public safety network (PS-LTE) project led by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will involve overall investments of KRW 1.7 trillion (approximately USD 1.5 billion).
Under the terms of the deal, KT will construct the national disaster safety communications network in Area A, which includes Seoul, Daegu, Daejeon and Jeju Island, and Area B, which includes Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, Gangwon Province, North and South Jeolla Provinces.
SK Telecom won the project for Area C, which includes Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province, Incheon and North Chungcheong Province. A KRW 187.8 billion budget was allocated to Area C.
"As we won Area A, we took on the role of control tower, tasked with comprehensively managing the entire project", KT said.
Once established, the public safety networks will be used by more than 300 institutions including police and fire stations and the Coast Guard as well as local governments and military. Currently, police and fire stations and the Coast Guard use different communication networks, which makes it difficult for them to share disaster situation information.
The PS-LTE will work together with LTE-Railway (LTE-R) and LTE-Marine (LTE-M), for railway and maritime wireless communication networks, respectively. This is expected to enable institutions to promptly share information at disaster sites and send high quality wireless images to one another.
The government plans to eliminate multiple management points and establish a unified disaster management and rescue system.
