South Korea’s top wireless carrier SK Telecom Co. has developed a common standard for 5G communication devices with other global network service providers including AT&T and China Mobile to ensure intercompatibility of global 5G mobile network, the company said Wednesday.

The new qualification standard is designed for testing interoperability of 5G network devices such as base station and switchboard made by different manufacturers on various specifications, cutting down the efforts and time for independently-made parts work together as a complete 5G network system.

SK Telecom expects the interoperability qualification standard would also accelerate the full commercialization of the 5G network.

The qualification standard is made on the basis of the non-standalone 5G New Radio specification approved by global standards-setting group 3GPP in December last year. SK Telecom plans to start testing the interoperability of its 5G network devices based on the new qualification standards within this year and also work to upgrade the intercompatibility standard to meet standalone 5G specifications by next year.

The company plans to have the new interoperability standards for 5G network devices accessible to not only mobile communication device makers but also other wireless service providers, allowing them freely utilize the new specification standard, said Park Jong-kwan, head of SK Telecom’s network technology institute.

By Lim Sung-hyun and Cho Jeehyun

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