SK Telecom has announced a strategic collaboration with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) to develop 5G-based solutions for smart energy plants. The two organizations are leaders in their respective sectors in South Korea and will combine strengths to modernize energy operations through advanced connectivity and digital technologies.
KHNP will initially adopt SK Telecom’s Digital Twin platform. Digital Twin technology creates a virtual replica of physical assets and systems, enabling realistic simulations and detailed monitoring. By virtualizing plant components and processes, operators can gain accurate, real-time insights into asset condition, productivity, and behavioral scenarios, improving decision-making and operational planning.
Jae Hoon Chung, President of KHNP, emphasized the expected benefits: “By integrating fourth industrial revolution technologies with KHNP’s energy expertise in partnership with SK Telecom, we expect to enhance nuclear safety and boost energy efficiency.”
Beyond domestic deployment, the partners intend to develop scalable solutions that can be exported to international markets and adapted to emerging energy technologies, creating new business opportunities and supporting global energy modernization efforts.
Jung-Ho Park, CEO of SK Telecom, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, saying:
“Combining SK Telecom’s ICT capabilities with KHNP’s energy technology will drive a new leap forward in the national energy sector.
This partnership can generate tangible outcomes, including the creation of new energy businesses and entry into overseas markets.”
SK Telecom has been actively expanding real-world 5G use cases since its network rollout. Recent initiatives demonstrate how 5G can be applied across industries:
- In April, SK Telecom announced development of military training programs that integrate 5G with virtual reality (VR) and related technologies to deliver immersive and realistic simulations for training and readiness.
- In May, the Seoul metropolitan government and SK Telecom revealed plans to equip buses and taxis with 5G-enabled Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). The initiative will support creation of a high-definition, real-time map to help prepare for autonomous vehicle deployment.
- Earlier this month, SK Telecom, Cisco, and Samsung announced a joint effort to build 5G smart office solutions. In this arrangement, SK Telecom provides the 5G infrastructure, Samsung contributes enterprise-grade devices and Knox security, and Cisco supplies enterprise networking and related technologies.
These projects illustrate how 5G can deliver tangible returns on investment by enabling safer, more efficient and more connected infrastructure. SK Telecom’s activities show that large-scale commercial 5G use cases are moving from concept to reality, with measurable benefits for energy, transportation, defense and enterprise sectors.
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