KT announced on the 16th that it has validated a base station technology using ultra-dense antenna at the 7 GHz band, one of the candidate frequency bands for 6G (sixth-generation mobile communication), in collaboration with European telecommunications equipment manufacturer Nokia. The technology validation took place in Espoo, Finland, where Nokia's headquarters is located.
The ultra-dense antenna technology uses more antenna elements (the part that emits radio waves) than 5G. It can increase transmission speeds through technologies like "beam forming," which focuses signals in desired directions, and by forming multiple beams to simultaneously transmit data to many users, thus multiplexing the transmission space.
Generally, as the frequency band increases, the transmission distance of radio waves decreases. However, KT confirmed that by utilizing ultra-dense antennas, it is possible to achieve coverage similar to that of 5G at 3.5 GHz, even at the 7 GHz band.
KT plans to showcase the results of this ultra-dense antenna base station technology validation in collaboration with Nokia at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, the world's largest mobile communications exhibition, held in Barcelona, Spain.
Lee Jong-sik, head of KT's Future Network Research Institute (executive director), noted, "We will accelerate efforts to secure proactive 6G element technologies to enhance customer quality of experience."