KT announced on June 30 that it is intensifying efforts to develop 'Semantic Communication,' a next-generation communication technology based on artificial intelligence (AI), as part of its strategy to establish global leadership in the 6G era.
Semantic Communication differs fundamentally from traditional data transmission methods by enabling AI to understand the meaning and context of data, extracting only the core information for transmission. This approach is akin to human conversations, where one can grasp the main points without listening to every word in a sentence.
Recognizing the potential of this technology, KT views Semantic Communication as a key infrastructure for AI-native networks—networks inherently integrated with artificial intelligence—expected to dominate the 6G landscape. The technology is receiving focused investment from KT and is deemed essential for enabling future services requiring ultra-low latency and ultra-high-speed communication, such as autonomous driving, real-time robot control, and immersive holographic communication.
Since October last year, KT has conducted practical experiments centered on video and voice data—the areas with the highest data consumption—to validate the effectiveness of Semantic Communication. The results showed that it is possible to deliver meaningful information without significantly increasing data transmission volume, maintaining user-perceived quality.
If commercialized, this technology could enable stable, high-quality media services even in environments with limited bandwidth, such as congested networks or satellite communication.
To expand the technological capabilities and global influence of Semantic Communication, KT has partnered with Nokia Bell Labs, a leading international research institute in communication technology. The two companies signed an MOU for joint research on 6G Semantic Communication earlier this year and hosted the ‘6G & Semantic Communication Technology Workshop’ at Nokia Bell Labs’ headquarters in May. They aim to share a strategic roadmap for collaborative research.
Their joint efforts include developing semantic transmission algorithms, verifying performance in end-to-end communication environments, and conducting demonstrations. Based on these results, they plan to contribute to international 6G standardization efforts and lead the global technology ecosystem.
Peter Vetter, Head of Core Research at Nokia Bell Labs, stated, “Bell Labs carries forward the legacy of Claude Shannon’s concept of ‘bits,’ and through collaboration with KT, we will verify the potential of Semantic Communication and work to evolve it into an efficient wireless network technology.”
Lee Jong-sik, Vice President of KT’s Future Network Research Institute, emphasized, “Semantic Communication is an innovative technology that redefines the essence of communication by combining AI and networks. KT will lead 6G technology not only through internal technology development but also through collaboration with renowned global research institutions, continuously innovating customer value as an AICT company.”
