The Korean government embarks on Cloud R&D project

The Korea Communications Commission(KCC) announced that it plans to initiate a cloud R&D project under a three-year plan, 2009-2011, tentatively named “Next-generation digital cable broadcasting service technology development in a cloud computing environment”, which is aimed at developing and building so-called “Cloud storage”, a subset of “Cloud computing”.

“Cloud computing” is the term used to describe the utilization of the internet for the purpose of storing and processing data using online technology services. For example, Google Docs allows users to upload documents, spreadsheets, and presentations to Google’s data servers. Users can edit files using a Google application. Users can also publish documents so that other people can read them, which means Google Docs is also an example of cloud computing. www. HowStuffWorks.com

“Cloud storage” is a subset of “Cloud computing” based on a model of networked data storage where data is stored on multiple virtual servers, generally hosted by third parties, rather than being hosted on dedicated servers.

The government expects that the cloud storage enables the cable TV operators to efficiently manage massive amounts of data for digital broadcasting contents and to save costs by having them avoid overlapping investments in independent infrastructure. It is also expected that it can be the advanced infrastructure for personal broadcasting services.

Source: Zeus Technology Ltd

The project will be controlled by Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information(KISTI) in cooperation with Taekwang systems, an IT solution provider and a subsidy of Taekwang group which owns T-broad, a cable TV system operator. And it is planned that 1 perabyte(1,000 terabytes) of storage in the cloud will be built by the end year of the project, 2011.