LG Uplus aims to be market leader with 5G

LG Uplus CEO and Vice Chairman Ha Hyun-hwoi, left, poses during the firm's ceremony to commemorate the launch of the commercial 5G smartphone services at LG Science Park in southwestern Seoul, Friday. / Courtesy of LG Uplus

By Baek Byung-yeul

LG Uplus is seeking to get ahead of its rival competitors by offering better fifth-generation (5G) network services, which will kick off on April 5, chief of the No.3 mobile carrier said Friday.

“The 5G service is a golden opportunity for LG Uplus to change the landscape of the telecommunications market,” Ha Hyun-hwoi, CEO and vice chairman of LG Uplus, said at LG Science Park in southwestern Seoul.

While the country's three telecom firms are gearing up for a successful launch of the world's first commercial 5G smartphone services, LG Uplus held a ceremony featuring company officials and smartphone retail shop owners nationwide.

Ha claimed LG Uplus' 5G services will be second to none as the firm offers a competitive 5G pricing plan, quality network services and plenty of enjoyable 5G content.

“LG Uplus has mapped out a winning game plan to rattle the telecommunications market and lead the 5G era. We are bound to win in this competition as we have the competitive edge in three cores of 5G services ― network, service and pricing plan,” Ha said.

LG Uplus said it has built 18,000 5G base stations in Seoul and neighboring areas as well as metropolitan cities of the country. It has set a goal to secure more than 50,000 base stations nationwide within the first half of 2019.

“We will be the fastest carrier to have nationwide coverage with 5G. Also in the service sector, we will keep announcing distinguished augmented reality and virtual reality services running on 5G in games, sports, entertainment, online comics and performance,” he said.

The firm announced three monthly data plans for 5G services on Friday, ranging from 55,000 won ($48.40) to 95,000 won ($84).

Subscribers of the 55,000 won plan can use up to 9 gigabytes per month on 5G, 150 gigabytes for the 75,000 won plan and 250 gigabytes for the highest 95,000 won plan. With 25 percent monthly telecommunications subscription fee discount, the price plans will go down to 41,250 won, 56,250 won and 71,250 won, respectively.

Also subscribers to the firm's 5G services can share data plans with their second devices such as tablets or smart watches. Those who subscribe to the 75,000 won and 95,000 won plans will receive additional 10 gigabytes and 50 gigabytes respectively that can be used to share data with the second devices.

“Our pricing plan for 5G service is so competitive so that our competitors cannot even imitate it,” Ha said.