KT GiGA Wi — Wi-Fi with a little help from your Buddy

KT Senior Vice President Yi Sang-hwan explains a new internet plan GiGA Wi on Monday at the headquarters of KT in central Seoul. [KT]

Gone are the days when a patchy Wi-Fi signal was remedied by deploying a series of third-party extenders around the house.

KT's new GiGA Wi wireless system, released today, includes both a wired router and a second access point that it says offers a considerable improvement on the Wi-Fi extenders available in Korea today.

GiGA Wi's Buddy extender [KT]

The notable feature of the new service is that the access point, dubbed Buddy, is completely wireless and has some functionality in its own right, unlike existing devices in Korea.

“The wireless access point was made possible by a technique called Easy Mesh that allows for an automated connection of Wi-Fi signals,” said KT Vice President Jeon Beom-seok.

Easy Mesh is a standard certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance — an organization that promotes Wi-Fi technology — to facilitate communication between routers and extenders.

“In the conventional networking system, the router and access point operate separately,” Jeon said. “So, users have to log in whenever they move the access point. But with the GiGA Wi, they can change the locations of Buddy simply by clicking some buttons on the device.”

KT explained that the role of wireless extenders has become important because more people use multiple mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets at home for a wide range of reasons.

“Home has became a central place to work, entertain and shop — all through the internet,” said KT Senior Vice President Yi Sang-hwan.

It comes with three different monthly plans depending on connection speed: 500 megabits per second for 30,800 won ($25), 1 gigabit at 35,200 won and 2.5 gigabits charging 40,700 won.

The access point Buddy can ensure up to 867 megabits per second.

Despite the recent introduction of Wi-Fi 6, an enhanced network standard, the GiGA Wi is based on the Wi-Fi 5 standard.

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