South Korean market leader SK Telecom (SKT) trumpeted the “successful development of Heterogeneous Network Integration Solution,” which will enable the simultaneous use of different networks to deliver high-speed data services.

Described as the first of its kind in the world, the technology integrates two networks – for example 3G and Wi-Fi or LTE and Wi-Fi – to provide data rates which are the sum of the two speeds.

The operator is planning to use the technology for simultaneous 3G and Wi-Fi use in the second quarter of 2012 to offer a theoretical maximum speed of 60Mb/s, followed by a LTE and Wi-Fi implementation in 2013 which will power “a 100Mb/s ultra-high speed wireless internet service.”

Supporting this, SKT plans to launch the world’s first smartphone based on this technology during the year, with support added to all handsets launched in 2013, “after conducting an analysis of consumer response and data distribution effect.”

The operator said it will push for the standardisation of Heterogeneous Network Integration Solution through groups including 3GPP and the ITU, and it will also be demonstrated at the GSMA Mobile World Congress next month.

It was noted that the technology will improve the mobile broadband user experience as “it resolves data traffic issues of 3G and LTE networks by increasing the use of Wi-Fi networks.”