South Korea's KT Deploys AI-Driven SDN Network for Global Seoul Concert

Korea Telecom (KT) is activating an enhanced network management system for a large-scale concert planned for next week at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. The company says it will deploy six portable mobile base stations in the Gwanghwamun and City Hall Square area, and will install 79 wireless base stations and 14 Wi‑Fi access points to boost network capacity for the event.

To keep communications stable in a crowded venue, KT will operate an emergency-duty framework centered at its Gwacheon Network Operations Center. The plan includes real-time monitoring of uplink and downlink traffic and a rapid response protocol for any incidents. On site, about 40 engineers will be deployed, bringing the total network specialists on site to around 80.

KT will also rely on its AI-based traffic management system, called W-SDN (Wireless Software Defined Network). W-SDN continuously monitors network traffic, detects overload signals in advance, and can automatically adjust network resources within a minute. The system uses precise frequency distribution and base-station output control to maintain stable service during large events and high-volume broadcasts.

In addition, KT has preemptively expanded its backbone network capacity to accommodate high-definition, high-volume streaming associated with global live coverage. Officials say this ensures that both domestic and international viewers can watch the performance without interruptions.

Oh Taek-kyun, an executive at KT’s Network Operations Innovation division, framed the effort as part of the telecom sector’s core responsibility: delivering stable service even when traffic spikes during major events or global live broadcasts. He said KT will continue to strengthen its AI-based network operations to ensure reliable service anytime, anywhere.

The case illustrates how South Korea’s telecoms firms are increasingly integrating AI and software-defined networking into contingency planning for major public gatherings. For U.S. audiences, the development highlights evolving network resilience and capacity as live events migrate toward global streaming, with cross-border traffic and international broadcasters relying on robust domestic networks to reach viewers around the world.

Gwanghwamun Square and City Hall Square are central anchors of Seoul’s government and cultural districts, near the historic downtown core and major transport corridors. The concert on the 21st—already drawing attention for its scale—will test how quickly a country’s top telecom operator can mobilize portable infrastructure, coordinate national operations, and sustain high-quality connectivity for a global audience.