On May 12, a passenger ferry departed from Pohang around midnight and arrived approximately six hours later at Ulleungdo, South Korea's easternmost island, located about 208 kilometers from the mainland. Despite its isolation risks during severe weather, Ulleungdo maintains a communication network with stability comparable to that of the mainland.
According to KT, approximately 3,800 of the 5,500 households on Ulleungdo subscribe to internet services, while over 4,200 households use IPTV services.
Yoon Chang-ho, head of the Pohang Operations Team at KT's Daegu-Gyeongbuk Access Operations Center, stated, "KT is the only telecom provider on Ulleungdo offering internet service at speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second (10Gbps). Beyond standard commercial services, we also play a crucial role in the national disaster communication network for the Ulleungdo and Dokdo regions."
◇KT Builds Unique Microwave Backup Network to Ensure Connectivity
The backbone of Ulleungdo's communication network is its redundancy structure. The island is connected to the mainland via an undersea fiber optic cable, which poses a risk of total communication disruption during typhoons or underwater accidents.In response, KT has established a microwave (MW) backup network, the only one among South Korea's major telecom companies, connecting the mainland to Ulleungdo. This network aims to maintain essential national communication and internet services in the event of an undersea cable failure.
The Gamulgyo relay station, located in Ulleung-eup, serves as a key point in the maritime communication network connecting Ulleungdo and Dokdo. One side of the station faces Mount Hambak in Gangwon Province, while the other faces Dokdo. The top of the tower is equipped with long-range maritime coverage LTE antennas, and 5G equipment is installed in the middle section.
Through this communication network, KT provides reliable services not only to the residents of Ulleungdo but also to distant fishing vessels. Currently, nine KT staff members, including two dedicated employees and seven from the group, are stationed on the island to handle outages and maintenance. Kim Won-hun, deputy head of the Pohang Operations Team, noted, "We are actively installing base stations in the highlands of Ulleungdo to improve overall communication quality."
◇Communication Support Extends to Jukdo and Dokdo Coast Guard
KT's communication support for island regions also extends to Jukdo, a small island near Ulleungdo, and Dokdo.Currently, Jukdo is home to a single family. KT has established a customized communication support system that converts LTE signals to provide internet services for the residents. As a result, residents of Jukdo can access internet and 5G smartphone services.
Lee Chang-ha, head of the Dongdaegu Engineering Team at KT's Daegu-Gyeongbuk Access Operations Center, explained, "Given the challenging environment for installing fiber optic cables, we have adopted a method to convert LTE signals for internet service. We regularly check the quality status and monitor for any outages."
Dokdo also saw its communication network established by KT in November 2018, making it the first provider on the island. Since then, continuous equipment upgrades have enabled wireless transmission speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps).
◇Engineers Work to Restore Internet Amid Heavy Snow
Maintaining and managing the communication network on Ulleungdo goes beyond simple facility maintenance. Due to the island's unique characteristics, which include frequent severe weather and isolation risks, the safety and daily lives of residents are at stake.Jeong Hyun-yong, from KT Service's Southern Daegu Headquarters, shared his experience of restoring communication equipment during heavy snowfall while working on Ulleungdo. He recounted, "At that time, over 1.2 meters of snow had accumulated, blocking the entrance to residents' homes. The outdoor internet lines were also severed, so I had to clear the snow and restore the communication facilities on-site."
He added, "I worked for about an hour, digging through the snow to ensure residents' safety. Such situations are common on Ulleungdo."
During winter, severe weather can disrupt ferry services, making it difficult to procure communication materials. In these cases, on-site engineers temporarily install personal equipment or office devices to support internet and TV access for elderly residents.
Kwon Dae-hyun, from KT Service's Southern Daegu Headquarters, emphasized, "In Ulleungdo, communication is not just a convenience; it often relates directly to safety. Our most important role is to ensure that residents can live without inconvenience."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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