| SKT CEO Ryu Young-sang, left, rides an urban air mobility aircraft with Joby Aviation CEO JoeBen Bevirt at the U.S. aircraft maker's production facility in California, February. / Courtesy of SKT |
By Lee Yeon-woo
SK Telecom will commercialize urban air mobility (UAM) in 2025, company CEO Ryu Young-sang said, Thursday, adding that UAM is a key industry for the future that will fundamentally change the transportation market.
UAM is considered the next generation of mobility, capable of reducing air pollution and easing traffic congestion, especially in regions where social infrastructure and populations are concentrated like Seoul. UAM aircraft do not emit carbon while running as they operate with electricity.
In his latest in-company column, Ryu showed a strong desire to gain supremacy in the heated UAM market.
“UAM has been considered to become feasible by 2030 at the earliest, but innovative companies worldwide are shortening the period. SKT will lead the commercialization of UAM in Korean skies by 2025 and will offer autonomous services by 2030,” he said.
It is known that SKT has actively set out to develop underlying technologies for UAM, such as mobile communication, autonomous driving, precise positioning, security and artificial intelligence.
By organizing a consortium with Silicon Valley-based aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation, as well as Hanwha Systems and the Korea Airports Corp., SKT submitted its first proposal on May 31 to participate in the government's K-UAM Grand Challenge project hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The K-UAM Grand Challenge is a demonstration program to test the safety and suitability of UAM in an urban environment and to support the commercialization of UAM by 2025. Korea's other two major telecommunication companies ― LG Uplus and KT ― confirmed their participation in the project as well.
SKT's participation in the competition is closely connected to its future blueprints.
“For the next 10 years, the new SKT will pursue a future industry in which no other companies have taken the lead but which has the potential to change Korea and the world,” Ryu said, adding that in addition to its potential, UAM can also solve social issues. “UAM is definitely a new business that fits SKT's standard.”