Mobile carrier LG Uplus and telecommunications equipment supplier Nokia opened a joint research and development center for 5G network technology in Seoul on Saturday.

The launch of the new R&D center, called the Advanced Technology Center, came after the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding on the next-generation network technology in January.

LG spokespeople said the center is aimed at the development of large-scale data transmission networks, low-latency technology in wireless communications, and cloud-based virtual base stations.

Participating in a meeting last week, Kim Sun-tae, chief of LG Uplus’ service and development division, and Nokia Korea head Andrew Cope discussed the details of their future collaboration.

“Through the collaborative efforts the two partners will take the lead in 5G technology by developing solutions together for the next-gen network, and come up with a blueprint for the era of so-called ‘Me-Centric,’ in which individuals are at the center of all telecom services,” Kim said in a press release.

Also vowing to beef up its business ties with the Korean mobile carrier, the head of Nokia Korea said, “The 5G technology will improve the current Long Term Evolution mobile services and roll out unprecedented services in the market.”

Some of the projects that the two companies will conduct down the road include advanced carrier aggregation and small-cell technologies, considered key to the commercialization of the 5G.

They would also share the results of their respective R&D efforts for the 5G network and the Internet of Things, a term that depicts a network of objects, and run joint projects afterward.

LG Uplus, meanwhile, has been ramping up its efforts to increase its presence in the growing industries, such as those for mobile payments and smart homes.

The wireless carrier has rolled out mobile payment services Pay Now and Pay Now Touch, and the IoT@home smart home platform that allows users to control home appliances through their smartphones.

By Kim Young-won  (won0102@heraldcorp.com)