The Evolution of a 120-Year-Old Korean Enterprise: A 5G Pioneer at the 2018 Winter Olympics, with a Global Reach from the USA to South Africa and Poland.

Partnership Plans with Viettel

On the morning of May 26, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung received a delegation from KT Corporation (Korea Telecom), South Korea’s leading telecommunications company with a strong network infrastructure in 5G, broadband internet, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and data centers.

Mr. Young Shub Kim, Chairman of KT Corporation, expressed his desire for the support and collaboration of the Vietnamese government in the partnership between KT Corporation and Viettel Group.

KT Corporation also proposed expanding its AI infrastructure, including the development of a modern AI Data Center to serve the region’s development needs.

In response to KT Corporation’s proposal, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed the Vietnamese government’s support for collaboration between KT Corporation and large Vietnamese technology enterprises such as Viettel Group through technology transfer, cooperation in training human resources, and investment in AI infrastructure development.

The Deputy Prime Minister also expected the two sides to continue their discussions and soon implement practical cooperation projects.

Additionally, the Deputy Prime Minister requested KT Corporation to develop an AI Data Center model suitable for Vietnam’s socio-economic conditions and economic growth rate, share AI Data Center operation and management experiences with Vietnamese partners, and cooperate with the National Innovation Center (NIC) and domestic institutes and universities to establish AI engineer training programs.

Profile of the “Giant” KT

KT is South Korea’s third-largest wireless carrier, with 13.5 million subscribers as of Q4 2023. Together with SK Telecom and LG Uplus, KT accounts for a significant market share in the country’s mobile and fixed telecommunications market.

The company was established in 1881 and was previously wholly owned by the state. As South Korea’s first telecommunications company, KT is the leading provider of broadband internet and local fixed-line telephone services, serving approximately 90% of the country’s fixed-line subscribers and 45% of high-speed internet users.

After selling its wireless affiliate, Korea Mobile Telecom, in 1994, KT re-entered the wireless market by establishing the PCS carrier KTF in January 1997.

In May 2001, a privatization plan was announced, and the company’s name was changed from Korea Telecom to KT. The privatization process was completed in 2002.

By 2005, according to the Korea Fair Trade Commission, KT had become a conglomerate holding 12 subsidiaries, with total assets of 29.315 trillion won, ranking eighth among South Korea’s large conglomerates.

In 2009, KT merged with its wireless subsidiary, KTF. In 2010, KT was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index.

KT Corp provided network solutions for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, including the deployment of the first 5G network at an Olympic Games. In 2019, KT Corp signed a 5G commercial contract with Ericsson, enabling all South Korean residents to purchase 5G services.

In 2021, KT Corp became the first company in South Korea to commercialize standalone 5G (5G SA) technology, according to ZDNet.

Currently, KT Corp has expanded its operations to various countries worldwide, including the United States, Uzbekistan, Poland, Rwanda, South Africa, Mongolia, and Brunei.