SK Telecom has made headways in a cloud-based technology essential to advancing 5G and 6G wireless networks, the leading Korean telecommunications provider said recently.
The company said that it has made improvements in power consumption and processing capacity for Open RAN virtual base stations.
Open RAN refers to Open Radio Access Network, a technology which can separate the hardware and software of mobile communications equipment and standardize interfaces such that parts from different manufacturers can work seamlessly.
The technology is an important element in the advancement 5G networks and commercialization of 6G networks, but it needs critical improvements due to its excessive power usage and lack of processing capacity.
SK Telecom says it has conducted field tests — alongside partners such as Samsung Electronics, Ericsson, which developed a processor with a built-in accelerator and Nokia, which developed an inline accelerator — that showed effective improvements in such realms. An inline accelerator co-processes a CPU's workload, helping to speed up its output and reduce its power consumption.
The telecommunications carrier also worked with Intel to develop AI-powered technology that can effectively monitor server processors by predicting traffic patterns. This is said to reduce a chip's power consumption level by 20 percent compared to those of prior virtual base stations.
“This is a meaningful achievement, as we made tangible improvements in power usage and processing capabilities, two critical factors in an Open RAN virtual base station,” said Ryu Tak-gi, SK Telecom’s head of infrastructure technology, in a statement on Monday. “The company believes that the virtual base station will become the baseline for advancement of 5G and 6G networks and will continue to make headways in research and development.”