IDIS acquires a controlling stake in KT Powertel

SEOUL, South Korea—IDIS, South Korea’s largest in-country video security technology manufacturer, has acquired a controlling (44.84 percent) stake in KT Powertel, the radio communications subsidiary of telecoms giant KT Corp.

The move will strengthen IDIS’s offering in the security and safety sectors, with customers to benefit from powerful push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) communications solutions, and an emerging generation of advanced safety and security systems encompassing a range of IoT devices.

“In Korea’s highly competitive and advanced home market KT Powertel has been a mobile communications leader for over 35 years, with more subscribers nationally than any other provider, delivering consistently strong sales and profits,” said IDIS CEO Y.D. Kim.

KT Powertel has been leading the development of LTE broadband wireless radio technologies in Korea’s world-beating domestic market. The acquisition will now enable IDIS to capitalize on this expertise in South East Asia and expand its capabilities globally. The move will strengthen the company’s position as a provider of complete, end-to-end video solutions that are easier to install and that offer true flexibility and ease-of-use and deliver on the promise of low total cost of ownership.

KT Powertel developed one the world’s first blind spot-free LTE radio services, Power Talk, and PoC communications solutions. PoC radios support advanced functions including instant group calling, messaging, GPS location tracking, and emergency notifications. This, combined with LTE cellular networks, provides the bandwidth necessary for advanced video and data applications.

KT Powertel’s depth of expertise in communications technology aligns well with IDIS’s focus on video surveillance and analytics solutions operated through a choice of video management systems and controlled via authorized access to client software or mobile applications. The acquisition, from KT Corp, will strengthen IDIS’s position in key markets including critical infrastructure applications, and both government and commercial sectors.

The move will further boost IDIS’s R&D capabilities in crucial growth areas including IoT. Recent analysis estimates that the number of businesses using IoT technologies has risen from 13 percent in 2014 to around 25 percent today, IDIS noted, with rapid acceleration now expected. Growth will be driven by the introduction of new and more capable sensors, more computing power and more reliable mobile connectivity, the company said, noting that as sensor technology becomes more powerful and affordable, it will become easier to expand and adapt security systems with a growing toolkit of remote add-on devices.

“As we look forward, video solutions will need to be increasingly convenient for customers to use on the move, and they’ll need to be more flexible to install and extend with IoT and wireless technology. In all these specialisms, IDIS’s acquisition of KT Powertel will extend its expertise as it develops leading-edge solutions to increase security and safety in a range of applications,” added Kim.