A flying taxi service will be introduced by South Korean telecom giant SK Telecom in 2025, and the company is anticipating substantial future revenue from this field to further expand its business, according to a report by CNBC on Monday, Feb. 27.
A partnership to create air taxis for the South Korean market was signed in 2022 by SK Telecom and the US business Joby Aviation, known for manufacturing electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLS).
By 2025, the South Korean government hopes to make air taxis a viable business. SK Telecom and Joby Aviation are attempting to capitalize on this initiative.
A pilot takes a flight on a flying taxi prototype during testing in Moscow on March 16, 2021. - Russian developer of passenger drones Hoversurf company tests its Hover drone taxi, a flying vehicle that can fly 30 minutes on one charge at an altitude of 150 meters transporting passengers and cargo up to 300 kg for a distance of up to 100 kilometers at speed of 200 kilometers per hour. The company aims to have these drones operating by 2025.
Commercially Available by 2025
The SK Telecom business's air taxi service will be made commercially available sometime in the middle of 2025, according to Ha Min-yong, chief development officer, before the company expands into other sectors such as logistics.
SK Telecom wants to diversify its business beyond operating as a standard mobile provider and has its eyes on emerging markets like flying taxis and artificial intelligence.
In order for these airplanes to function and eventually fly independently, they will need to be connected to next-generation 5G networks. Luckily, this is SK Telecom's area of specialization.
While still in their infancy, unpiloted electrical drones are expected to be in use worldwide by 2050, according to consultancy Roland Berger. The company claims it will bring in nearly $90 billion in income annually.
Read Also: Korean Researchers Develop New Holographic Microscope, Provides 3D Imaging for Living Mouse's Brain
SKT's AI Service
Meanwhile, CEO Ryu Young-sang claimed that SKT's AI service "A" had successfully entered the Korean market by amassing 1 million subscribers in just nine months of its launch and unveiled plans to improve the service further and open up opportunities in the international market.
SKT is now working on developing A by accumulating appropriate knowledge data and machine learning. It will let users interact emotionally, making them feel like they're chatting with their pals.
The business wants to increase A's selection and application. 30 to 100 features/services are available, and relationships with well-known character manufacturers are being promoted.
According to CEO Ryu, the revised version of A will include additional capabilities, such as complex dialogues, multiple characters, and customizable material to be made available this quarter.
He also discussed his goals of advancing AI into the global market by customizing the service to several areas and markets in conjunction with international telecoms and AI tech firms, per a press release on Monday, Feb. 27.
Related Article: South Korea's Watchdog Fines Google and Meta $71.8 Million for Collecting User Information Without Their Consent
