3 South Korean mobile operators to share 5G networks in remote areas
The big three South Korean mobile operators – SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus -have agreed to share their 5G networks in 131 remote locations across the country, Yonhap news agency reported. According to the Ministry of Science and ICT. the initiative is designed to accelerate the rollout of 5G networks across the country.
Under the plan, a 5G user would be able to use other carrier networks in such regions that are not serviced by their carrier. The ministry said telecom operators will test the network sharing system before the end of this year and aim for complete commercialization in phases by 2024.
The ministry said the selected remote regions are sparsely populated, with a population density of 92 people per square kilometer, compared with those without network sharing at 3,490 people per square kilometer.
The move comes as the country races to establish nationwide 5G coverage, with network equipment currently installed in major cities. The big three South Korean telecom operators promised in July 2020 to invest up to 25.7 trillion won (US$23.02 billion) to update their network infrastructure by 2022.
South Korea was the world’s first country to commercialize 5G in April 2019. As of February 2021, the country had 13.66 million 5G subscriptions, after a net addition of 792,118 subscribers during the month. That’s 19 percent of its total mobile users. SK Telecom had the largest number of 5G subscribers at 6.35 million, followed by KT Corp. at 4.16 million and LG Uplus at 3.15 million.
According to data from the Ministry of Science and ICT, a big boost in 5G subscriptions during the first two months of the year was chiefly due to the popularity of Samsung Electronics’ latest flagship Galaxy S21 smartphones, which already surpassed 1 million units in domestic sales last week. The country’s three carriers are seeking faster adoption of 5G across the country and have announced more affordable 5G plans to promote the adoption of the technology.
South Korean telecom operators currently provide 5G services via non-standalone 5G networks, which depend on previous 4G LTE networks. The country’s three operators launched 5G technology in April 2019, and 5G networks are available mostly in large cities.
SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus are currently preparing to commercialize new technology, such as Standalone versions of the 5G networks and millimeter-wave 5G.
References:
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210415002500320
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South Korean MVNOs, including Sejong Telecom, will release new data plans from April that provide up to 30 gigabytes (GB) of data for around 40,000 won ($35.87). The agency noted that the three MNOs do not currently offer plans at a similar price point for the same amount of data.
According to Yonhap, the MSIT recently changed the rules to allow MVNOs to independently design 5G data plans, as opposed to working with MNOs as in the past.
The agency further noted that of the 13.66 million 5G users in South Korea, only 7,000 are currently on MVNO networks. It also said the total number of MVNO users stood at 9.27 million in February, of which 6.6 million were using 4G services.
https://www.lightreading.com/asia/south-korea-adopts-5g-network-sharing-to-boost-rural-5g/d/d-id/768817?
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