The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) of South Korea has launched a '6G Society' aimed at fostering collaboration between the mobile telecommunications and satellite communication industries. This initiative is designed to enhance cooperation between satellite communication and 6G mobile communication technologies, which are increasingly crucial components of the evolving 6G ecosystem.
The convergence of terrestrial and satellite communications is anticipated to enable hyper-space communication services, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity across diverse environments including land, sea, and air. MSIT aims to advance 6G wireless communication with hyper-connectivity and minimal latency through collaborative efforts among members of the '6G Society'.
Ryu Jae Myeong, Deputy Minister of the Network Policy Bureau at MSIT, highlighted the importance of the collaborative principles that form the foundation of the ‘6G Society’. “It is very important to bring together industry, academia, research institutes, and government to be a first mover to set the 6G standards and secure technology for rapid commercialization”, he said.
At present, the ‘6G Forum’ and ‘Satellite Communications Forum’ function independently, aligning with their own market segments and technology areas of interest. The ‘6G Society’ will function as a bilateral advisory group, promoting collaboration by exchanging information on standardization trends and deliberating on initiatives for collaborative technology development. During the launch event, notable industry figures including Kim Dae Jung, Director of the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA), delivered talks. Kim Dae Jung's presentation offered insights into global advancements in standardizing 6G technology.
Furthermore, Choi Seong Ho from the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) shared significant updates on the progress of 6G and low-orbit satellite communication technology. Professors Jang Kyeong Hee of the 6G Forum and Lee Moon Gyu of the Satellite Communication Forum provided thorough overviews of the research and development (R&D) efforts within their respective fields.