KT looks to reach 85 cities with NB-IoT services by March 2017.
South Korean telecommunications operator KT expanded its partnership agreements with Samsung Electronics, Ericsson-LG and Nokia, with a focus of deploying a nationwide narrowband “internet of things” network by the first half of 2017, The Korea Times reports. The South Korean telco said it will work with the three vendors to upgrade its existing LTE network across the country.
KT plans to upgrade its existing LTE base stations to provide a separate frequency band dedicated to the new services. The South Korean telco also plans to use nearly 300,000 routers that have already been installed to provide network services in underground parking lots. KT said it’s looking to cover 85 cities in with its NB-IoT network by March 2017, and expand nationwide by June.
Huawei signs IoT agreement with LG Uplus
South Korean mobile operator LG Uplus signed a deal with Huawei covering NB-IoT services.
Under the agreement, Huawei plans to provide around 100,000 NB-IoT chipsets and modules to small- and mid-sized enterprises that offer to join the NB-IoT business platform.
“We are providing the free chipsets and modules only to LG Uplus because we believe Korea has the greatest influence around the globe in the area of IoT,” said Zhu Cheng, head of Huawei’s cellular IoT product line.
Huawei and LG Uplus recently opened the NB-IoT Open Lab at LG Uplus’ office in Seoul.
