SKT-Korea Airports Corporation-Hanwha Systems-Korea Transport Institute signed a business agreement for UAM business
[디지털경제뉴스 김재원 기자] On the 27th, SK Telecom signed a business agreement with Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, and Korea Transportation Research Institute to commercialize Urban Aviation Mobility (UAM).
UAM (Urban Air Mobility) is an air mobility service that utilizes electric-powered vertical takeoff and landing small aircraft (eVTOL), which can be reached in about 20 minutes in an hour by car and can be linked with various land transportation means to help the life of urbanites It is attracting attention as a service to innovate.
◆Innovative mobility service connecting land and air transportation = The government formed the’UAM Team Korea’, a government-wide consultative body in June last year, suggesting the target of launching UAM commercial services in 2025, while supporting private-led flight demonstration projects. The policy is to set operational standards suitable for domestic conditions, such as communication environment and safety measures.
The four companies plan to continue to cooperate for research and development in all areas such as UAM infrastructure, aircraft, navigation services, navigational transportation, platforms, demand, and acceptance. Through this, it is a strategy to reduce social costs caused by traffic congestion in metropolitan areas and large cities and contribute to the establishment of eco-friendly transportation without GHG emissions.
SKT was in charge of demonstrating and building an air traffic communication network model. In order to safely control UAM, a stable communication system connecting the aircraft and the ground is required. SKT builds a network to provide an optimal communication environment not only on the ground but also in the air.
SKT will also develop a mobility platform for UAM to provide integrated services related to boarding reservations and transfers with land transportation, laying the foundation for efficient use of UAM, buses, railroads, personal mobility, etc. from the point of departure to the destination. to be.
On the other hand, Korea Airports Corporation is in charge of the construction and operation of UAM takeoffs (Vertiport) and UAM traffic management, while Hanwha Systems is in charge of UAM aircraft development and navigation, control and ICT solution development. The Korea Transport Institute is in charge of research on UAM service demand forecasting and public acceptance.
◆Market forecast of 731 trillion won in 2040 … spurs commercialization of UAM in major countries around the world = According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, UAM-related industries are expected to form a global market worth 731 trillion won by 2040. As it is a field that plays an important role in the mobility innovation of smart cities, governments of various countries are also actively promoting commercialization.
As UAM requires a comprehensive range of business capabilities from airframe design to infrastructure construction and service provision, the government and various operators in advanced countries including the United States and Germany are promoting commercialization through alliances.
In the midst of intensifying global competition for UAM, for stable commercialization, not only aircraft development but also communication infrastructure operation capability for linking with urban transport systems is essential. SKT plans to build organic services through collaboration with Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, and Korea Transportation Research Institute.
Yoo Young-sang, CEO of SK Telecom’s MNO business, said, “Through collaboration with competent operators, we will make efforts to realize the K-UAM roadmap that Korea is aiming for, and further introduce world-leading mobility infrastructure based on Korea’s advanced ICT Will”.
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