KT said on Wednesday it signed an agreement with Kia and autonomous driving technology company SUM at Kia's Yangjae headquarters to push the commercialisation of remote driving technology.

The agreement aims to establish an operating framework to implement remote driving technology as an actual service and to identify business models that can be used in the private and public sectors. Earlier, the three companies conducted a remote driving demonstration on general roads in Jeju Island with relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the National Police Agency, to verify the technology's completeness and its potential for service application.

Based on the agreement, the three companies will pursue remote driving service operations using a stable communications network, analysis of operating data and technology advancement. They will also cooperate on joint participation and demonstrations at domestic and overseas exhibitions, identifying service models for the private and public sectors, and establishing a basis for related laws and systems.

KT will be in charge of operating the communications network that connects vehicles and a remote control centre. It will provide a stable data transmission environment so vehicles and the control centre can exchange real-time video and control information without interruption.

KT will check in advance communications quality for the driving environment and key service sections. In actual operations, it will set up network quality management and a system to respond to disruptions. At domestic and overseas exhibitions, it will handle building communications networks suited to the demonstration environment, on-site monitoring and technical support.

In the public sector, the partners will combine KT's communications and artificial intelligence transformation (AX) capabilities, Kia's vehicle and mobility technology, and SUM's remote driving and control technology. They also plan to work with public institutions and local governments to identify services to apply in areas vulnerable to transportation or areas requiring support for daily social overhead capital (SOC).

The three companies will form a working-level consultative body and prepare detailed operating plans this year for the commercialisation of remote driving technology. They plan to progressively specify regions and schedules for the business, measures to secure communications quality, plans for technology advancement, exhibition participation and public service models.

Suh Sang-gyu (서상규), an executive director in KT's enterprise unit, said communications infrastructure that connects vehicles and the control centre without interruption is essential for stable remote driving services. He said KT will enhance the stability and reliability of remote driving services based on its 5G and LTE networks and communications operations capabilities.