South Korean mobile operators SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus have agreed to share their 5G networks in remote coastal and farm towns. The initiative is designed to accelerate the rollout of 5G networks across the country, Yonhap news agency reports, citing a statement from the Korean ICT Ministry. The agreement signed by SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus will enable 5G users to access 5G services regardless of their mobile operator in 131 remote locations across the country.
The Ministry also reports that mobile operators will test the network sharing system before the end of 2021, and plan to commercially launch the service in phases by 2024. The Ministry also says 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.
Back in September 2020, SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus teamed up with the government to launch a task force to expand 5G coverage into rural areas. The task force sought to enable roaming network sharing among SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus in areas where population density is low.
In July 2021, SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus announced plans to invest up to KRW 25.7 trillion (approximately USD 23.02 billion) to update their network infrastructure by 2022.
South Korea ended February 2021 with 13.66 million 5G subscribers, accounting for 19 percent of the country’s total mobile user base. South Korea was the world's first country in the world to commercially launch 5G services, in April 2019.
