KT said on June 9 it has put in place a telecom quality inspection and response system in major crowded areas where cheering is expected ahead of the South Korea national soccer team’s first World Cup match on June 12.

KT conducted advance telecom quality inspections around Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square, City Hall Square and Yeongdong-daero in Gangnam, where large crowds are expected to gather. It also prepared network operation measures to cope with increased traffic.

KT applied network technology based on its W-SDN (Wireless-Software Defined Network) to the response system. W-SDN is an intelligent network control system that precisely analyses real-time traffic centrally and automatically selects and manages base stations at risk of overload.

It can immediately reallocate network resources depending on crowd density and changes in service usage, allowing telecom services to be provided stably even at large events.

KT will operate a phased response system to cope with sudden traffic increases that could occur on site. It will deploy additional mobile base stations in advance and conduct 24-hour special monitoring at the Gwacheon network control centre. It plans to immediately deploy recovery staff if unusual situations occur.

KT has previously operated its network based on W-SDN at a large-scale performance in Gwanghwamun and major sports events in March, delivering stable quality. It plans to continue improving the network quality customers experience by expanding the application of artificial intelligence analysis and control functions.

Sun-il Jeong (정선일), managing director and head of KT’s Network Operations Innovation Division, said, "We plan to provide seamless telecom services through W-SDN technology at cheering sites where the hopes of the entire nation come together." He added, "We will continue to advance intelligent automatic control technology and improve the network quality people experience."