KT, KISTI Launch South Korea’s First South Korea–U.S. 400G Research Network

[Financial News] KT has partnered with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) to build a 400Gbps-class single international private line connecting South Korea and the United States. With four times the bandwidth of the previous network, the line is expected to expand the foundation for global joint research involving large-scale data exchanges in artificial intelligence (AI), extreme-scale science and astronomy and space science.
KT announced on the 16th that it had launched South Korea’s first 400Gbps-class single international private line to the United States, built in partnership with KISTI. The bandwidth on the South Korea–U.S. route has been increased fourfold from the previous 100Gbps.
The line serves as the international backbone of the National Science and Technology Research Network operated by KISTI, connecting KISTI’s headquarters in Daejeon with Chicago, a hub for research networks in North America and Europe.
As data-intensive research in AI, extreme-scale science and astronomy and space science has grown, so has demand for large-volume data exchanges between countries. The 400G line is expected to improve conditions for data use in international joint research and AI and convergence research by enabling faster and more stable transmission of large research datasets.
The two organizations built and tested the stability of the undersea cable section to ensure reliable 400Gbps-class transmission over the ultra-long-distance route between South Korea and the United States. They then established a connection to Chicago, laying the foundation for an ultra-high-speed, ultra-high-capacity research network that can be used in actual research settings.
KT explained that it had expanded the National Science and Technology Research Network onto the New Cross Pacific (NCP) submarine cable, which directly connects South Korea and the United States without transit, reducing latency and transit-related risks on the international route. KT currently operates five submarine cable systems, including Asia-Pacific Gateway (APG), Asia Pacific Cable Network 2 (APCN-2), NCP, Trans-Pacific Express (TPE) and KJCN—three in Asia and two in North America. It has also diversified its cable landing stations, where submarine cables connect to terrestrial communications networks, between Busan and Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province.
KT plans to gradually expand submarine cable capacity and further diversify its cable landing stations.
Jeon Myung-jun, senior managing director and head of the Enterprise Services Division at KT’s Enterprise Business Unit, said, "Building on our capabilities in operating international submarine cables and global backbones, we will continue working with KISTI to strengthen the global competitiveness of the national research network and support digital innovation."
[email protected] Choi Hye-rim Reporter