KT Deploys 5G Standalone Network at Fireworks Festival... Supports Real-Time CCTV Monitoring

Only Mobile Carrier to Apply 5G SA Network Slicing Among Korea’s Big Three

KT announced on September 6 that it applied 5G standalone (SA)-based network slicing technology at the Seoul World Fireworks Festival 2026, held on September 5, to provide a communication environment for safety management even in situations with dense crowds.

As the official technology partner of the event, KT operated 25 wireless closed-circuit (CC) TVs with network slicing applied in the Yeouido and Ichon Hangang Park areas, transmitting video in real time to the central control room. KT also provided 10 emergency communication devices to safety personnel to support crowd control and emergency response for spectators.

KT announced on the 6th that it provided a communication environment for safety management even in crowded situations by applying 5G standalone mode (SA)-based network slicing technology at the Seoul World Fireworks Festival 2026 held on the 5th. KT employees are checking the quality of the communication network for on-site safety management with devices applying 5G SA network slicing technology on site. KT

At event sites where large crowds gather at once, a rapid increase in traffic can cause data delays or communication failures. In particular, wireless surveillance equipment—required to transmit video in real time to the onsite control room—is especially susceptible to the effects of network congestion.

To address this, KT applied network slicing technology that divides a single physical communication network into virtual networks by use case. Much like bus-only lanes on congested roads, KT secured a dedicated communications network for safety management, separate from that of general visitors. This allowed the central control room to monitor real-time video of crowd density and onsite conditions in key areas of the venue without the need to establish a separate dedicated line. The 10 emergency communication devices provided to safety staff also remained stable via the sliced network.

Network slicing is a core technology that can be implemented in a 5G SA environment, where both the core network and base stations are built exclusively for 5G. Currently, KT is the only one among Korea's three major mobile carriers to operate a commercial 5G SA network.

After verifying voice and data communication stability among event staff during the Gwanghwamun World Cup street cheering event in June, KT expanded its application to include large-capacity real-time video transmission at this festival. Based on the results of this successful demonstration, KT plans to expand the application of network slicing to various fields that require stable communication infrastructure—such as large-scale events, industrial sites, and public safety—and is also considering the provision of customized network slicing services for enterprises and general customers.

Tae-Kyun Oh, Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Network Strategy at KT, stated, "This Seoul World Fireworks Festival served as an example proving our operational capabilities of the commercial 5G SA network slicing and its potential in public safety applications. We will continue to advance customized network services to meet the needs of customers and industrial sites."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.