Naver's new HQ has its own 5G network, 'brainless' robots

Naver's cloud-controlled delivery robot at Naver headquarters building in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. [NAVER CLOUD]

Naver Cloud has a private 5G network at its new headquarters, the first such private 5G network in Korea.

Samsung Electronics supplied the main equipment for the 5G system.

A private 5G network is an independent system with a dedicated bandwidth in a limited area such as in a factory or a building. In Korea, 4.7 gigahertz (GHz) and 28GHz spectrums are dedicated to private 5G networks, and organizations who want to set them up must get a license from the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Naver Cloud is a Naver subsidiary offering cloud computing services. The 5G network is at Naver 1784, the company's newly-built headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi.

Naver 1784 is located next to the company's first headquarters, Naver Green Factory. Naver described 1784 as "the world's first robot-friendly" building, where robots move around the floors delivering package and even coffee.

The 5G network will power Naver’s cloud-controlled robots, which are described as "brainless." Brainless robots don't need built-in operating systems because they are connected to a central brain in the cloud.

Samsung Electronics’ network equipment including 5G radios and its Compact Core — the infrastructure serving as the cornerstone of a 5G network service — was deployed to ensure faster speeds and lower latency in processing large amounts of data.

Naver Cloud applied to the Ministry of Science and ICT last November for a 5G network spectrum allocation and signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung Electronics in March to build the private 5G network.

The companies plan to continue their collaboration on other projects including GAK Sejong, Naver’s second data center under construction in Sejong City.

“Naver’s new headquarters serves as a test bed to explore technologies of the future, where 5G networks and the cloud play a central role,” said Han Sang-young, executive director at Naver Cloud. “Together with Samsung, we will continue to develop new private 5G network business models and cooperate to help more companies achieve a digital transformation with cloud technology.”

Samsung Electronics Vice President Chang Yong said, “Samsung will continue to work with public institutions and enterprises to deliver diverse uses [of 5G network] for transportation systems, hospitals, schools, public facilities and more.”

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]