SK Telecom sent out 5G Request for Proposal (RFP) to its potential 5G ICT partners in and outside of Korea on the 30th of last month in order to discuss introduction of 5G network equipment.

The 5G RFP is a document that summarizes the requirements for 5G commercial system that the company has designed for introduction of 5G network equipment. Any interested ICT partner can submit a proposal that can satisfy the detailed criteria specified in the RFP.

Over the three months to come, SK Telecom will be collecting proposals and hosting introduction meetings before final partners are selected in late October. The operator, in cooperation with selected partners, will revise RFP and finalize detailed plans to deploy 5G commercial networks. 

The RFP was sent to ICT partners who had responded to the Request for Information (RFI) that the operator had disclosed earlier in April. And it contains the company's detailed technical specifications of 5G commercial network equipment, such as base station, core equipment and virtualization infrastructure, and other business requirements, specifically including the following core technologies essential for 5G evolution:

• Radio transmission specifications and performance of each 5G candidate frequency band
• Virtualized core network technologies
• Interworking between LTE and 5G networks

According to the company, the RFP especially details its know-how to operate and design networks, including information on architecture, type and performance of SK Telecom's 5G system designed based on today's hottest 5G technologies that are most discussed by global standardization organizations like 3GPP.

The 5G RFP was recognized as a more meaningful step in that it was a sign of the beginning of full-scale introduction of 5G commercial network equipment. The company will continue to make efforts to have the 5G technologies discussed reflected in the standardization processes by global 5G standardization organizations like 3GPP and NGMN.

Kang, Jong-ryeol,  head of infrastructure division at SK Telecom said, "For successful 5G commercialization, close cooperation with local and global partners is essential". "Now, we will stay committed to provide our customers with differentiated values by ensuring our leadership in 5G and realizing 5G commercialization faster"