S. Korea to invest 220 billion won to develop 6G tech by 2025

South Korea will invest 220 billion won to develop and standardize sixth-generation (6G) network technology by 2025 and conduct joint research with the US to strengthen competitiveness in the global race for future technology.

Included in the efforts to develop 6G network technology is the integration of satellite networks and terrestrial networks to power telecommunications for future flying vehicles and drones and disaster situations.

The 6G technology, which is expected to reach up to 50 times faster than 5G and have a tenth of its latency, is in the early stages of development, with commercialization possibly as early as 2028.

South Korea plans to launch 14 low Earth orbit satellites by 2031 to test the technology.

The country's Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation and the United States' National Science Foundation has also signed a memorandum of understanding to conduct joint research in 6G technologies.

The two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in emerging technologies, including 6G during last month's summit.

The ministry added that it is also pursuing research with the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology and Finland's University of Oulu.