South Korean telecommunications company SK Telecom has revealed plans to launch a flying taxi service in 2025, which it expects to generate significant revenue. SK Telecom and US firm Joby Aviation teamed up last year to develop air taxis for the South Korean market. The electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles are a way to transport people around densely populated cities and avoid traffic.
The South Korean government is keen to commercialize air taxis by 2025, and SK Telecom and Joby Aviation are looking to take advantage of this support. Chief Development Officer of SK Telecom, Ha Min-yong, revealed in an interview with CNBC that the company’s air taxi service would be made available commercially in the middle of 2025 before expanding to logistics and other areas.
Ha said that if the service quality is acceptable to the general public in terms of safety and security, the government will allow the operator to expand the area of the service, including logistics, tourism, and medical-related services.
READ ALSO:
Nokia’s new G22 smartphone allows users to repair it themselves
Microsoft unveils new features for telcos using Azure cloud services at MWC
SK Telecom is keen to move beyond being a traditional mobile carrier and has set its sights on artificial intelligence and flying taxis. These aircraft will require connecting to next-generation 5G networks to operate and fly, eventually autonomously. Consultancy Roland Berger predicts that by 2050, there will be nearly 160,000 unpiloted electrical drones in use worldwide, generating nearly $90 billion in annual revenue.
Ha said that if all goes well, air taxis could be a big revenue driver for SK Telecom, but not immediately. He added that the company needs to make sure that the service offered to society and the community is safe enough for at least the next five to seven years. Once it is accepted by the public, SK Telecom believes it will generate significant revenue.