SEOUL - South Korean platform operators, ranging from streaming to map service providers, are stepping up efforts to prepare for the highly anticipated comeback concert of K-pop boy band BTS slated for later this week, industry sources said Tuesday.
The move came as BTS is scheduled to hold the "Arirang" concert at Gwanghwamun Square free of charge on Saturday, which has drawn global attention as the band's first performance in about three years, with police estimating as many as 260,000 people will gather around the area that day.
Netflix, a major global streaming platform, is set to exclusively broadcast the concert, marking its first live event in South Korea.
The U.S. streaming service operator's move came amid rivals' efforts to expand content from movies and dramas to live sports and entertainment events. Coupang Play, a streaming service under major e-commerce giant Coupang, offers major soccer events, while Tving broadcasts the Korean pro baseball league and the ongoing World Baseball Classic.
Industry watchers said Netflix's right to livestream the BTS concert is expected to lead to more subscribers worldwide, considering the global popularity of the K-pop group.
"The event will be livestreamed in 190 countries simultaneously, and subscribers can enjoy the event on various devices, including mobile and TV, without additional costs," an official from Netflix said.
South Korea's online map service providers are also seeking to offer customized services targeting the BTS concert.
Naver Corp., a South Korean search engine giant, will present users with detailed information on the locations of help desks, restrooms and other facilities at the concert venue.
Kakao Corp. will also provide detailed locations of buses on 420 routes to help with crowd management.
The country's major mobile carriers are also making all-out efforts to maintain a stable mobile service environment in the region.
SK Telecom Co. said it will activate its artificial intelligence (AI)-based network management system, A-One, which will predict traffic based on past event data while recommending optimal locations to install equipment.
No. 2 mobile carrier KT will install six mobile base stations in the Gwanghwamun area to respond to potential network congestion.
"An event where global fans participate simultaneously is an opportunity for platform operators to boast their service competitiveness," an industry official said. "The competition centering on global cultural events is expected to further escalate."
