KT Corp. will become the nation’s first telecom provider to adopt eco-friendly bobbins for its fiber optic cables starting in April. (Image courtesy of KT)
SEOUL, March 19 (Korea Bizwire) — KT Corp., South Korea’s leading telecommunications company, announced on Tuesday that it will become the nation’s first telecom provider to adopt eco-friendly bobbins for its fiber optic cables starting in April.
Bobbins, the cylindrical structures used to store and transport cables, are traditionally made from wood. KT’s new bobbins, however, are manufactured from certified recycled plastic (low-density polyethylene), approved by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. These bobbins can be reused more than 10 times, though they have historically been costlier and more difficult to retrieve.
To overcome these challenges, KT partnered with five cable suppliers — LS Cable & System, Taihan Fiberoptics, Gaon Cable, Mercury Optical Communication, and ESTech International — to implement a rental model that lowers costs. Additionally, the company is deploying IoT-based tracking and management services to streamline bobbin recovery.
KT anticipates replacing approximately 2,500 wooden bobbins annually with the eco-friendly versions. The move is expected to prevent deforestation and reduce 12,500 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to cutting 27,200 kWh of electricity use — the monthly consumption of 78 four-person households.
The company stated it will gradually expand the use of recycled plastic bobbins across all fiber optic cables, marking a significant step in its broader environmental sustainability strategy.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
