KT goes all out to prepare its network for Busan Fireworks Festival; 19 temporary base stations to be activated

[Financial News] Ahead of the 21st Busan Fireworks Festival, which will be held on the 7th, KT is launching special network management measures in preparation for large crowds. It will operate 19 temporary base stations around the venue and use 5G (fifth-generation) network slicing technology to support the stable transmission of video from closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras used for safety monitoring.
KT said on the 6th that it would implement special measures to minimize network congestion during the Busan Fireworks Festival.
Mobile data use, including the transmission of photos and videos, is expected to rise significantly as large crowds gather at Gwangalli Beach and nearby areas for the festival. KT said it had checked network conditions not only at the venue but also along the main routes attendees will take, and expanded related facilities.
KT will set up 19 fixed temporary base stations at Gwangalli Beach and nearby viewing areas, and deploy mobile base stations as well. It has added 5G and LTE equipment at major entrances and exits and at locations where congestion is expected, and adjusted antenna directions and output to suit on-site conditions.
On the day of the festival, the Network Operations Center and the on-site joint operations room will monitor network operations in real time. If data use becomes concentrated at certain base stations, KT plans to distribute the load using W-SDN, a wireless network automation technology. Network specialists will be stationed at the venue to respond immediately to any outages, and emergency power-generation equipment is also in place in case of a power supply interruption.
KT will also use 5G standalone (SA)-based network slicing technology to provide dedicated communications resources to 15 wireless CCTV cameras used for safety monitoring. Network slicing divides a single 5G network into multiple logical networks according to the purpose of each service, ensuring the communications quality each one requires.
The wireless CCTV cameras will be installed at locations where attendees are expected to gather, including Gwangalli Beach and subway station entrances. KT plans to extend coverage to the underground section connecting Gwangan Station and Suyeong Station so that on-site monitoring footage can be transmitted smoothly even if network usage surges.
Jeong Seon-il, a managing director and head of the Network Operations Innovation Division in KT's Network Business Unit, said, "The Network Operations Center and the on-site joint operations room will work closely together to ensure stable communications services through the end of the event."
[email protected] Choi Hye-rim Reporter