Formation of’UAM Dream Team’ such as Hanwha·SKT
A dream vehicle capable of vertical takeoff and landing
Telecoms lead the mobility paradigm
The’flying car’ will fly up four years later.
SK Telecom announced on the 28th that it has entered into a business agreement with Hanwha Systems, Korea Airports Corporation, and the Korea Transport Institute to commercialize urban air mobility (UAM). UAM is an air mobility service using electric powered vertical take-off and landing small aircraft (eVTOL). Since it uses the route, there is no traffic congestion and it is operated by electricity, so it is eco-friendly.
Through this business agreement, the four companies will continue to cooperate in R&D on UAM aircraft, infrastructure, navigation services, navigational transportation, platforms, demand, and acceptance. The goal is to commercialize UAM services by 2025.
This project began when Hanwha Systems entered the UAM market in July 2019, proclaiming the development of UAM aircraft and the development of information and communication technology (ICT) solutions in the navigation and control sector for the first time in Korea. Hanwha Systems is developing’Butterfly’, an air taxi system.
SK Telecom is in charge of the demonstration and construction of the air traffic communication network model. By establishing a mobility platform for UAM, it also provides services related to boarding reservations and transfers with land transportation. It means that it will prepare an integrated system that connects UAM with buses, railroads, and personal mobility. To this end, SK Telecom has spun off Tmap Mobility last month and is strengthening its mobility business. SK Telecom President Park Jeong-ho said, “We will provide a representative mobility life platform in Korea that encompasses flying cars, proxy driving, parking, and public transportation.”
The Korea Airports Corporation builds and operates the’UAM takeoff and landing area (vertie port)’ and the upper concept’vertie hub’. It is considering building the world’s first verti hub at Gimpo Airport. The Korea Transport Institute is in charge of research on UAM service demand forecasting and public acceptance.
With this cooperation, the four companies are expected to play a leading role in the UAM project promoted by the government. In 2019, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport established the’Future Drone Transportation Officer’ in charge of urban air transportation such as UAM. Since June of last year, it has formed’UAM Team Korea’, a government-wide consultative body, to support private-led flight demonstration projects.
The government and companies plan to increase their competitiveness in the UAM field through cooperation. This is because the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and China are actively promoting commercialization. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the global UAM-related industry is expected to grow to 731 trillion won in 2040.
Kim Yeon-cheol, president of Hanwha Systems, said, “We will discover all-round business opportunities with industry leading companies in the future of mobility.
Yoo Young-sang, CEO of SK Telecom’s MNO business, said, “We will make the’K-UAM’ roadmap a reality in collaboration with competent operators and present a leading mobility infrastructure.”
Reporter Yoonjeong Hong/Mansu Choi [email protected]