KT announced it has developed the first 1Gbps networking technology capable of being extended to customers on existing two-pair cable networks.
The technology is designed to improve the modulation between internet exchange points and subscribers, roughly doubling internet speeds from the 500Mbps maximum available over two pair wires.
This will allow KT to offer 1Gbps services as part of its GiGA broadband portfolio to areas where fiber is not available without having to lay new wire.
According to the operator, most buildings constructed in South Korea before the year 2000 were wired with two-pair wires.
The technology is an evolution of KT's existing GiGA Wire technology, which allows for speeds of up to 600Mbps. KT said it plans to lauch GiGA Wire 2.0 with speeds of up to 1Gbps in the second half of the year.
“We are the first in the world to develop GiGA Internet with GiGA Wire, which will help to strengthen our reputation as a IT powerhouse nation,” KT CTO Lee Dong-myun said.
“We will continue to develop cutting-edge wired and wireless technologies in order to lead the era of 5G.”