IDEMIA has partnered with the KT Corporation (KTC) to help boost 5G adoption rates in South Korea. To that end, IDEMIA will be outfitting the Corporation with its new eXtra One 5G USIM card to help support KTC’s new standalone 5G network.
The standalone KTC network is one of the first of its kind to appear in the Asia Pacific region. The eXtra One, meanwhile, is a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) that was built to optimize both security and performance in 5G mobile handsets. In that regard, the USIM cards will encrypt each user’s International Mobile Subscriber Identity number (IMSI) before sending information along to KTC, which means that the mobile network operator (MNO) will not be able to link a specific user to their personal location data and network usage habits.
The USIM cards themselves boast NFC capabilities, and can therefore be used in a wide range of contactless NFC payment systems. They are also compatible with 4G networks and non-standalone 5G networks in addition to the full standalone 5G offering, and meet the international privacy standards laid out by the Trusted Connectivity Alliance (TCA).
“We have worked with KT Corporation for many years going back to the 3G era, and we are thrilled to join forces once more to bring to market a truly groundbreaking product,” said IDEMIA APAC Mobile Operators VP Benson Yeo. “We look forward to support their efforts in delivering a smoother, more modern experience to South Korean customers.”
“It’s just a matter of time before 5G becomes the new global communication standard,” added KTC Device Team Leader Joon-Ho Lee. “We partner with IDEMIA to stay ahead of the curve and ensure that our users’ privacy and data are totally safe while they enjoy the benefits of our 5G networks.”
The GSMA recently approved IDEMIA’s embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) eSIM card for use in various IoT devices. IDEMIA now offers recycled SIM cards through its GreenConnect portfolio, and is hoping that its eUICC and USIM tech will encourage more consumers to embrace 5G solutions.
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