Aju Business Daily

SEOUL -- LG Uplus (LGU+), a mobile carrier in South Korea, will combine its 5G technology with a wireless plant operation solution from Emerson, a multinational automation solution company, to release an industrial wireless communication gateway called "W-Box" that would ease entry barriers hampering the establishment of smart plants.

By utilizing a near-frequency-communication (NFC) system, W-Box works with various sensors and collects information that will be transmitted to the server in real-time via 5G communication. LGU+ said that it is easy to implement smart plants in outdoor, underground, high and dangerous areas because it does not require additional costs other than the power supply.

Until now, separate wire work was needed to check the corrosion or erosion of drainage pipes. With W-Box, LGU+ said that efficient facility operation will be possible by reducing the time spent on managing remote facilities and the cost of building telecommunication lines. A business agreement was signed between LGU+ and the South Korean branch of Emerson. 

LGU+'s new business division head Cho Won-seok said that W-Box can lower entry barriers to smart plants. "With more popular smart plant solutions, we will help the digital transformation of many companies that have faced difficulties in managing facilities."