19 temporary base stations to operate around Gwangalli Beach

5G technology to support 15 safety-monitoring CCTV cameras

KT Corp staff inspect network quality and deploy mobile base stations at the venue and along key pedestrian routes ahead of the 21st Busan Fireworks Festival. [KT Corp]
KT Corp staff inspect network quality and deploy mobile base stations at the venue and along key pedestrian routes ahead of the 21st Busan Fireworks Festival. [KT Corp]

KT Corp is reinforcing its telecommunications network ahead of the Busan Fireworks Festival to handle the large crowds expected at the event. The company plans to install temporary base stations at the venue and apply traffic-distribution technology to provide stable service to attendees.

KT Corp announced Friday it would activate a special communications plan for the 21st Busan Fireworks Festival, set for Saturday.

The festival is expected to draw large crowds to Gwangalli Beach and surrounding areas in Busan. Mobile data usage is forecast to surge as more attendees share photos and videos taken at the event.

In response, KT Corp conducted advance checks on network quality at Gwangalli Beach and along major pedestrian routes, and reinforced its wireless network accordingly.

The company will operate 19 fixed temporary base stations and mobile base stations around Gwangalli Beach and nearby viewing zones. Additional 5G and LTE equipment has been deployed at beach access points and areas expected to see the heaviest crowds, with antenna angles and output levels optimized for on-site conditions.

On the day of the event, KT Corp will run a real-time response system centered on its network operations center and an on-site command post. Staff will closely monitor traffic fluctuations and base station status before and after the event, with specialists on the ground ready to respond quickly to any issues.

The company will also deploy W-SDN (Wireless Software Defined Network), a wireless network automation technology that redistributes load and optimizes the wireless network when traffic concentrates on specific base stations, minimizing any drop in service quality.

KT Corp is also preparing for unexpected power failures. The company said it has standby power generation equipment ready and will manage both network quality and facility safety through the end of the event.

The company is also stepping up communications support for crowd safety monitoring. Using 5G standalone (SA) network slicing technology, KT Corp will support video transmission from 15 wireless closed-circuit television cameras.

The cameras will be installed at points of high crowd density, including Gwangalli Beach and subway station entrances and exits. KT Corp plans to allocate dedicated communications resources to ensure stable video transmission to the on-site command post.

Network slicing divides a single 5G network into separate channels according to service requirements, each delivering the necessary quality of service. The technology allows KT Corp to secure dedicated communications resources for safety-monitoring video feeds even when general data usage spikes.

For this festival, KT Corp plans to expand its coverage beyond outdoor venues such as Gwangalli Beach to include underground transit corridors connecting Gwangalli Station and Suyeong Station.

"We reinforced the wireless network at the venue and along key pedestrian routes in advance so that festivalgoers can share their precious moments without any inconvenience," said Jeong Seon-il, senior vice president and head of network operations innovation at KT Corp's network division. "The operations center and on-site command post will work in close coordination to ensure stable communications service through the end of the event."

Meanwhile, KT Corp took similar steps ahead of World Cup street cheering events in June, deploying special network management at major locations including Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul City Hall Plaza and Yeongdong-daero in Gangnam. On that occasion, the company used W-SDN technology to automatically manage base station overloads and prepared for large crowds through mobile base station deployment and round-the-clock monitoring.


woo@heraldcorp.com