SK Telecom (SKT) said the next-generation telecommunications business should move beyond merely generating revenue from traffic demand and shift its focus toward enhancing the value of the infrastructure itself. In a new white paper exploring the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in telecom infrastructure during the 6G era, the operator anticipates adopting a flexible network architecture based on a 'Generation Mix,' which appropriately combines previous generations of mobile communications while considering data traffic demands and specialised services.

SKT's Latest 6G White Paper

On Tuesday, SK Telecom released its latest 42-page white paper, titled SK Telecom 6G White Paper: View on Future AI Telco Infrastructure, outlining the evolutionary direction of next-generation telecom network infrastructure through the convergence of AI and telecommunications.

Key Elements of 6G Infrastructure

In its first 6G white paper, published last year, SKT provided an analysis of key requirements for 6G standardisation, technology trends, candidate frequencies, and more.

In this latest 6G white paper, SKT said it defines the key elements for 6G infrastructure evolution as 'Cloud-Native, Green-Native, and AI-Native,' and presents the direction of 6G infrastructure evolution based on the ubiquitous intelligence emphasised in the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) 6G Framework Recommendations (IMT-2030).

"Through this white paper, we aim to present the direction of the next-generation infrastructure evolution based on Telco Edge AI and explore the expansion of the relevant ecosystem," said Yu Takki, Vice President and Head of Infra Technology Office at SKT. He added, "We are committed to leading the transition to 6G by developing AI-powered wireless and wired networks that create new value through the convergence of AI and telecommunications."

Role of Telco Edge AI

SKT's 6G white paper also highlights the concept of 'Telco Edge AI' infrastructure, which integrates telecom network infrastructure and AI to simultaneously provide real-time data processing and AI services.

SKT further explains that the value of telecommunications networks can be enhanced by integrating AI solutionstelecom infrastructure, enabling real-time AI inference.

Building a Global Ecosystem

Finally, SK Telecom emphasises the importance of building a global ecosystem, discovering promising business models, and driving technological evolution in the AI era.