• Dramatically reduces latency by up to 60 percent in 5G data communications

• Enhances Quality of Experience by linking AR/VR, game, smart factory, etc. to MEC platform

• Plans to open up its MEC platform to third-party developers and provide open APIs

SK Telecom (NYSE:SKM) today announced that it has built ‘Mobile Edge Computing Open Platform,’ which is capable of significantly enhancing the response time in 5G data communications.

Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) minimizes latency by providing a shortcut for data transmission. The shortcut is created by installing a small-scale data center at 5G base station or router. With MEC, latency is reduced by up to 60 percent.

MEC is a key technology in realizing ultra-low latency data communication in 5G networks. The technology will be widely used for services that require ultra-low latency such as AR/VR services, cloud gaming services, autonomous driving & fleet management, real-time live broadcasting.

SK Telecom plans to open its 5G MEC Platform to allow its enterprise customers to offer related services.

Enterprise customers can improve customers Quality of Experience (QoE) by connecting their service server or data center to SK Telecom’s MEC platform. For instance, through the application of MEC, a smart factory can enhance the response time of robots that run on 5G network.

Moreover, SK Telecom will also provide open Application Programming Interfaces to enable companies to easily develop MEC-based 5G services. Through APIs, developers will be provided with diverse data and functions.

SK Telecom is already promoting cooperation with diverse companies in the area of MEC platform. The company joined hands with MobiledgeX to showcase MEC-based industrial AR service at MWC Barcelona 2019 and is also working together with the Facebook-led Telecom Infra Project (TIP) to build an ecosystem for MEC developers.

Furthermore, SK Telecom is discussing the application of MEC technology to new AR games of Niantic, the creator of the popular mobile game ‘Pokémon GO, and is also seeking cooperation with diverse cloud gaming companies, AR/VR service providers and cloud providers.

“By opening up the ‘5G Mobile Edge Computing Platform’, SK Telecom will secure the basis for expanding the MEC-related ecosystem and accelerating the release of 5G services,” said Park Jin-hyo, Chief Technology Officer of SK Telecom. “SK Telecom will join hands with diverse companies throughout the globe to boost the adoption of MEC-based services.”