Verizon and Korea Telecom have signed another 5G development pact as the operators push to get ahead of the curve with next-generation mobile.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) and Korea Telecom are both pushing to deploy 5G ahead of most other operators. Verizon is expecting to launch a fixed wireless pilot in 2017. Korea Telecom intends to deploy the technology by the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea, which start in February 2018. (See Verizon Could Take Fixed 5G Nationwide.)

"Global partnership for the 5G standardization is very crucial ahead of its planned commercialization in 2020, as a single firm or country alone cannot achieve the goal," KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu reportedly said.

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The operators will work together on millimeter wave technology, SDN and NFV for 5G. Verizon has been testing 28GHz mmWave gear from Samsung Corp. during 2016. KT has 5G development pacts with Samsung, Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC) and Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK)

KT and Verizon have already formed the 5G Open Trial Specification Alliance with fellow operator NTT DoCoMo Inc. (NYSE: DCM), and aim to develop an aligned 5G trial specification for tests between 2016 and 2018. (See SK Telecom, DoCoMo, Verizon, KT Form 5G Alliance .)

— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading