The three major Korean mobile operators have applied to the government for re-assignment of 2G frequency bands. The ten-year licence for the spectrum is set to expire in June. SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus have asked the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) to redistribute the spectrum, the Korea Herald reports. The regulator will review the applications and will look at the efficiency of spectrum use, financial funding ability, and the firms' technical skills in April and May. A decision is expected in June. However, KT officials said they would use the spectrum – 20 MHz in the 1.8 GHz range – not for 2G or 3G services but for LTE. KT has announced it will stop providing 2G services from 30 June and has presented measures to help customers migrate to 3G. SK Telecom has applied to re-use its 30 MHz block in the 800 MHz range and will continue to offer 2G services while making room for LTE services as well. LG Uplus also plans to use its 20 MHz block in the 1.8 GHz range for existing services. In a related effort, the company hopes to secure a 20 MHz block in the 800 MHz range, which is projected to be returned by SKT in July, to launch LTE services.
