A locally developed mobile communication technology that can promote the building of a ubiquitous wireless network for cities has been selected as the international standard, the government said Thursday (Mar. 27).

The wireless beacon-enabled energy efficient mesh network (WiBEEM) has been picked by a committee under the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) as the established standard in this field, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said.

It said the decision by the Joint Technical Committee 1 Sub Committee 25 (JTC1/SC25) marks the first time for a locally developed system to be chosen for such a standard.

The WiBEEM, which merges sensors and wireless communication, could be used to provide "smart parking" services, resolve the problem of wireless blackout zones in buildings as well as keep track of children and people that may need immediate medical attention over a broad area.
Smart parking enables drivers to locate empty spaces in parking lots.

SK Telecom and Kyungwon University, which developed the system, said WiBEEM can play a central role in the construction of a "u-City," an advanced digital city in which people and computer systems are connected through a broadband wireless network that can give users access to a wide range of information and services.

"The decision by the ISO and IEC can give local companies a lead in the u-City service market that is expected to grow to $1 billion in 2010 and is expected to have considerable economic benefits for the South Korean economy," a ministry official said.

Korea aims to become a leader in the information technology industry and has been moving to incorporate sensor and mobile communication systems into a network.

In April 2007, the government said it will develop Incheon Free Economic Zone, located west of Seoul, as a test bed for the introduction of a u-City.
SOURCE : Korea.net