S. Korea¡¯s three major telcos to pit for over $1 bn military network project

South Korea¡¯s three major telecom companies will compete for at least $1 billion defense project to build a new communication network linking up every level of command.

According to industry sources, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus have completed the submission of their respective business proposals to authorities for the next-generation military-broadband convergence network (M-BcN) project on Wednesday.

The project will cost a record 1.2 trillion won ($1.04 billion) which breaks down to 633.9 billion won for equipment installation and construction and the remaining for operation and maintenance.

The project aims to build the country¡¯s first advanced nationwide military network with a 10-year operation and management period. The key to the project is to improve the network between 2,321 military units including Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Commands, and those units under the direct control of the Ministry of National Defense into a state-of-the-art communication network and to establish an integrated network management system that the military can operate and control independently.

The project follows an expiring contract with SK Telecom which has built and operated the current military telecommunication network. A new vendor will be responsible for completing a new network between 2022 and 2023 and for operation and maintenance for 10 years from 2024.

Sources said the bidders formed a consortium with their respective partners in network design and engineering: SK Telecom-Daeyoung Ubitec, KT-Moon Engineering, and LG Uplus-Anse Technologies. A preferred negotiator will be selected by mid-August after proposal review in early August.

[¨Ï Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]