SK Telecom and NTT Docomo signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) late last week for a strategic tie-up in the Metaverse, telecom, and media businesses. They will jointly work on the establishment of infrastructure related to the said industries.

South Korea's SK Telecom and Japan's NTT Docomo mobile phone operator will develop services and technologies in the metaverse together. In their agreement, the partnership will also cover the media and the 6G network businesses.

The signing ceremony was attended by Ryu Young Sand, SK Telecom's chief executive officer, and Ii Motoyuki, the president of NTT Docomo. The event took place at the Grand Walkerhill Hotel in the eastern part of Seoul.

As per Korea Joongang Daily, while SK Telecom and NTT Docomo are set to cooperate in various fields, Metaverse will be one of their top priorities. In fact, they are thinking of setting up metaverse content that will feature both K-pop and J-pop.

The Korean telecom firm also said that they are also considering a joint investment in some metaverse-related content creators and hardware equipment manufacturers. And for this deal, the companies will form a regular consultative body or team that will manage their metaverse projects. This group will also be tasked with connecting the firms' respective metaverse services in the future.

Once the Metaverse services of SK Telecom and NTT Docomo are linked, users of SKT's ifland will be able to freely visit the latter's own virtual world and avail of the metaverse services. The companies will also develop 5G and 6G technologies with the aim of securing the next-generation network tech like the Open RAN or Open Radio Access Network.

"The MOU has a significant meaning as it is a cooperation between the representative mobile operators of Korea and Japan," SKT's president and CEO said in a press release. "By working together with NTT DOCOMO in the area of future ICT, we will generate tangible results that drive global ICT innovation."

NTT Docomo's president Ii further stated, "By combining our technological capabilities and the know-how we have cultivated across years of experience, we hope to create new services that will allow customers around the world to experience new forms of excitement. We look forward to working with SK Telecom to develop the businesses of both companies."