SKT, Kepco team up on new energy projects

Jang Dong-hyun, CEO of SK Telecom, and Cho Hwan-eik, CEO of Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco), celebrate the opening of SK Telecom-Kepco Collaboration Center in Naju, South Jeolla, on Tuesday. [SK TELECOM]

Telecommunications operator SK Telecom will partner with the state-run Korea Electric Power Corporation to develop an intelligent transportation system, infrastructure for electric cars and a smart grid system.

The move is intended to shift the focus of SKT’s portfolio more towards future-oriented energy and infrastructure.

The joint effort will take place at the SK Telecom-Kepco Collaboration Center, which opened Tuesday in Naju, South Jeolla.

“The new energy segment is considered a fresh growth engine for SK Telecom,” said Jang Dong-hyun, CEO of SK Telecom. “The Collaboration Center can help [SK Telecom and Kepco] grow the market,”

SKT and Korea Electric Power Corporation will develop technology that allows connected cars to communicate with a broader transportation infrastructure. Among other features, the technology can provide real-time information about traffic, weather and highway conditions.

To boost electric car infrastructure, the two will set up charging stations and show their locations on SKT’s navigation service called T-Map in August.

Blending the technical expertise of SKT with Kepco’s energy management skills, the center will also lead the development of a smart grid, which refers to a system that can manage electricity demand in a sustainable and reliable manner.

The top priority in this initiative is to build an advanced metering infrastructure that allows for efficient energy management through two-way communication between utility companies and their customers.

To power the smart grid system, SK Telecom will establish a network system dedicated to smaller connected devices to facilitate machine-to-machine communication.

The carrier and state-run body plan to export the technology abroad after introducing it on the domestic market.

“By combining the strengths of the two units, the smart energy project will help take a leading position in the global energy market and lead sustainable development,” said Cho Hwan-eik, CEO of Kepco.

The launch of the Collaboration Center is part of the two parties’ partnership in the new energy sector.

SKT and Kepco signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in January to collaborate on projects related to new energy.

In March, the two partners jointly introduced an electric car equipped with new technologies at the International Electric Vehicle Expo on Jeju Island.

BY PARK EUN-JEE [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]