SK Telecom has numerous alliances around the world, and the latest may be with Vodafone. The Korean operator is in discussions with Vodafone about a cooperation focused on LTE services and data techniques.
With SKT looking to be the world‘s first cellco to deploy LTE-Advanced, as well as a range of other breakthroughs in cloud services and HetNet, it aims to turn those advances into commercial alliances. It already has a deep partnership with China Mobile, focused on joint technical and applications development, much of it harnessing SKT‘s own advances. Now it aims to replicate that structure elsewhere.
Specifically, according to Korea Times, Vodafone is interested in how SKT fights back against over-the-top providers with its innovative use of cloud media and social networking applications.
A first step is expected to be for Vodafone to adopt the Korean firm‘s Smart Push technology as it migrates to LTE in countries like Germany. This claims to boost the efficient handling of high volume mobile data, delivering a smoother social and messaging experience, and enabling new applications closely tied into the carrier‘s network.
"Collaboration with Vodafone will be strengthened as it has keen interest in using the SK technology amid its migration into data intensive LTE," an unnamed SKT executive said in the newspaper report. SFR of France, formerly a Vodafone joint venture, is also said to be evaluating Smart Push, along with other carriers.