Nokia, SK Telecom to commercialize fiber sensing tech for first time in Korea

SK Telecom, Korea’s largest mobile carrier, and Nokia will collaborate to commercialize the Finnish tech giant's AI-based fiber sensing technology in 2024.

SK Telecom’s Ryu Jung-hwan, head of infrastructure strategy and technology, right, and John Harrington, Nokia’s senior vice president and head of network infrastructure sales for the Asia-Pacific region, pose for a photo after a signing ceremony at SK Telecom's headquarters in central Seoul on Wednesday. [SK TELECOM]

SK Telecom, Korea’s largest mobile carrier, and Nokia will collaborate to commercialize the Finnish tech giant's AI-based fiber sensing technology in 2024.

SK Telecom said on Monday that it will utilize Nokia’s product to detect earthquakes, climate changes and other unexpected situations that might arise from nearby construction areas in order to stabilize network conditions.

The two companies aim to achieve the first domestic commercialization of fiber sensing within the year, gathering proof-of-concept data utilizing machine learning from SK Telecom’s existing wired network infrastructure.

Fiber sensing technology is used to monitor environmental factors that can affect fiber optic cables and detect damage. While preexisting network monitoring methods can only conduct such maintenance over certain distances, Nokia's product will cover all territory nationwide.

The Korean carrier also plans to come up with an intelligent pre-emptive response system after implementing fiber sensing technology nationwide to minimize damage from cable disruptions and ultimately prevent service interruptions.

A signing ceremony for the memorandum of understanding took place at SK Telecom’s headquarters Wednesday in central Seoul. SK Telecom’s Ryu Jung-hwan, head of infrastructure strategy and technology, and John Harrington, Nokia’s senior vice president and head of network infrastructure sales for the Asia-Pacific region, attended the event.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]