SK Telecom to complete testing of 5G-powered traffic system in Seoul

SK Telecom Co., a major South Korean telecommunications operator, said on Tuesday it would complete testing of a next-generation traffic system in Seoul by the end of the month as it seeks to accelerate efforts to develop autonomous driving technology based on its high-speed 5G networks.

The telecommunications operator has been testing the traffic system, named Cooperative-Intelligent Transport System (C-ITS), with the Seoul Metropolitan Government since early 2019 and has installed 1,735 5G sensors on the city’s main roads covering 151 kilometers for monitor traffic data.

SK Telecom has announced plans to complete the development of a platform next year that will provide the data collected from the system to shipping companies.

Using the data collected by the sensors, SK Telecom said it sent an average of 43 million notifications per day of pedestrian information to vehicles.

SK Telecom said it has also created a high-precision map capable of providing traffic information by installing advanced 5G driver assistance systems on 1,600 buses and 100 taxis that travel around the city.

The technology is able to recognize real-time road traffic information, in which the data is analyzed by artificial intelligence technology to power autonomous vehicles. (Yonhap)