SK Telecom plans to launch pilot LTE-M (LTE for Maritime Wireless Communications) network and deploy the test network by May 2016 in the East Sea of Korea.

The world’s first pilot LTE-M will be part of a research and development project led by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF).

LTE-M, which supports wireless telecommunications on ships located approximately 100 kilometers from shore, is expected to significantly enhance navigation safety of small ships that have relatively poor inbuilt communication and safety system than large vessels.

Radio signals transmitted from a high-gain antenna located at high altitude in the eastern coast will be received by LTE-M router installed on a ship to be converted to Wi-Fi.

The telecom service provider will develop an antenna that covers up to 100 kilometers offshore as well as an LTE-M router that can receive LTE signals in a stable manner in the maritime environment by withstanding high humidity, strong wind and salt-laden atmosphere.

“SK Telecom will deploy LTE-M and contribute to enhanced safety of ships,” said Choi Seung-won, senior vice president and head of Network Strategy Office.

Earlier, SK Telecom said that the number of LTE subscribers reached 17.94 million or 62.6 percent of the company’s total mobile subscriber base. Monthly average data usage per LTE subscriber grew from 3.0GB in March to 3.3GB in June.

Baburajan K
[email protected]