KT Joins NATO Dialogue on 5G and 6G Standards for Defense Communications
KT has become the first Korean telecom company to participate in a NATO-linked wireless standardization meeting as a 5G and 6G expert, joining talks in Korea on interoperable next-generation military communications.
South Korean telecommunications company KT is taking part in a NATO-linked standards meeting focused on the military use of 5G and 6G, becoming the first Korean telecom operator to participate as an expert in next-generation mobile communications standards.
The ninth meeting of the NATO Wireless Communications Standardization Project began in Korea on Monday and will run for four days. Hosted by South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense and the Telecommunications Technology Association, the gathering has brought together about 100 participants from defense and government agencies, telecommunications companies and standards organizations in Korea and overseas.
The project serves as a forum for government officials and private-sector specialists from NATO members and partner countries to examine how commercial mobile technologies can be adapted for military purposes. It holds three in-person meetings each year, with the previous session held in San Diego in May. The Korean meeting places particular emphasis on the development of common standards for next-generation defense communications.
KT is expected to present its experience applying commercial 5G technology in defense environments and contribute to guidelines for the adoption of both 5G and 6G. Participants will also exchange updates on development programs and military applications in their respective countries. Draft standards under review include technologies related to satellite communications and wireless backhaul, which connects access networks to broader communications infrastructure.
A central objective is interoperability, or the ability of communications systems operated by different participating countries to work together. Shared technical standards can help defense organizations combine new mobile networks with existing systems while maintaining dependable connections across national and organizational boundaries. The discussions also underscore the growing overlap between commercial telecommunications development and military communications requirements.
Kim Won-tae, head of KT’s public and financial business division, said applying commercial technologies such as 5G and 6G to defense is a challenge that requires cooperation between the private sector and defense organizations. He said KT intends to strengthen civil-military cooperation with the Defense Ministry and other agencies while contributing to international standardization discussions.
KT’s participation gives a Korean carrier a direct role in discussions that could influence how future defense networks are designed and connected. For South Korea, the meeting also provides a venue to share domestic experience in advanced mobile infrastructure as governments consider how higher-speed, lower-latency and more flexible networks may be used in security-sensitive settings.