KT staff members carry out AI-RAN technology validation on the company’s commercial 5G network

• Verification of a core 6G technology… First applied in Naju, to be expanded step by step

• AI enhances perceived quality by precisely estimating radio signal strength and increasing processing capacity

• KT: “We will lead network innovation and continuously strengthen our technology leadership”

KT (CEO Kim Young-Sub) announced on the 26th that it has begun validating AI-RAN (Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Network) technology on its commercial 5G network. AI-RAN is a next-generation communication technology that analyzes traffic data exchanged between base stations and network servers in real time to provide the optimal network environment.

Base stations equipped with AI-RAN technology use a dedicated AI engine to identify radio conditions and traffic patterns in real time, thereby optimizing wireless resources. This validation is being conducted in the Naju region of South Jeolla Province using Nokia’s latest 5G base station equipment embedded with an AI processor.

Based on the results, KT plans to launch commercial AI-RAN services and gradually expand deployment areas. KT is the first in Korea to implement AI-RAN on a commercial 5G network.

AI-RAN is regarded as an essential technology for the 6G era, and this 5G-based AI-RAN verification is considered a prerequisite step. KT intends to optimize and advance AI-RAN on its commercial network and proactively establish technical specifications and operational standards required for 6G.

The key AI-RAN functions introduced by KT can be summarized into two main areas:

1. Machine Learning-Based Channel Estimation
   In wireless communication, quality depends on how accurately the base station predicts and transmits radio signals to user devices. Traditionally, this was analyzed using mathematical calculations, but errors can increase in areas where signals are scattered by mountains or high-rise buildings. AI models, by learning these complex propagation patterns, can estimate changes in signal strength more precisely under different wireless environments. As a result, data loss and latency are reduced, communication stability is improved, and more data can be transmitted within the same frequency.

2. Machine Learning-Based MU-MIMO Operation
   MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output) is a technology that transmits data simultaneously to multiple users using the same frequency and time resources. With machine learning, AI instantly analyzes each device’s signal direction and traffic conditions to identify user groupings with minimal interference. This increases the total amount of data a base station can deliver within the same time, thereby expanding overall capacity. Users experience faster speeds and higher quality of service.

Kwon Hye-jin, Head of KT’s Network Strategy Division, stated: “AI-RAN is a critical technology that not only enhances perceived quality for customers but also lays the foundation for the 6G era. KT will be the first to validate and introduce AI-RAN on commercial networks, leading network innovation and continuously reinforcing our technology leadership.”