The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
  • Economic Essay Contest
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Sun, January 24, 2021 | 12:48
IT
5G availability in Korea at just 15%: report
Posted : 2020-06-30 15:28
Updated : 2020-06-30 15:28
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Gettyimagesbank
Gettyimagesbank

South Korean smartphone users' connection to 5G network services is far lower than expected, with 5G users only able to use the fastest network 15 percent of the time, a report showed Tuesday.

South Korea, the first country around the globe to commercially launch a 5G mobile network in April last year, currently offers 5G services in non-standalone mode, which requires support from the 4G LTE network. Currently, 5G mobile network services are limitedly available in major cities, such as Seoul.

Users of SK Telecom Co., the country's largest mobile carrier by subscribers, spent just 15.4 percent of their time connected to the 5G network, followed by No. 3 mobile operator LG Uplus Corp. at 15.1 percent and KT Corp. at 12.5 percent, according to the report from industry tracker Opensignal.

For the remainder of the time, 5G users had to rely on 4G networks, according to the report, which tracked 218,095 devices in the country from Feb. 1 to April 30.

When connected to 5G, LG Uplus users enjoyed the fastest download speeds of 237.2 Megabits per second (Mbps), followed by SK Telecom at 220.4 Mbps and KT at 214.8 Mbps, according to the report.

South Korea has been aggressively pushing to expand the 5G network, with the three carriers set to invest a combined 4 trillion won (US$3.3 billion) on expanding the new 5G infrastructure in the first half of this year.

Despite their strenuous efforts, 5G coverage has been limited here, especially in indoor environments, leading to consumer complaints. To address such issues, the government aims to install around 2,000 indoor 5G base stations this year.

As of April this year, there were 115,000 5G base stations in the country, far smaller than the 870,000 4G LTE stations that provide nationwide coverage, according to the ICT ministry.

The country aims to establish nationwide 5G coverage by 2022.

The carriers have tested standalone versions of 5G services under limited conditions this year, although they have yet to be launched commercially.

There were 6.9 million 5G users in South Korea as of the end of May, which account for 10 percent of the country's 69 million mobile subscribers, according to data from the ICT ministry.

Analysts expect the number of the country's 5G subscribers to reach 10 million by the end of this year as more 5G phones are released, such as Samsung Electronic Co.'s Galaxy Note 20. (Yonhap)











 
WooriBank
 
  • New Year brings despair
  • Pakistani man killed during TikTok video stunt on train track
  • Inexcusable deaths of children in Korea
  • From 'America first' to 'Earth first'
  • North Korea sees talks as way to advance nuclear program, says US intel official
  • The death of K-pop
  • Balance of Joseon royal court interpreted through contemporary design
  • Growing number of businesses seek to tap into EV battery waste
  • [INTERVIEW] AMCHAM chief says more chemistry to come between Korea, US
  • LG's value to improve with mobile biz restructuring: analysts
  • [K-POP INTERVIEW] What are MOMOLAND's comfort foods? [VIDEO] [K-POP INTERVIEW] What are MOMOLAND's comfort foods? [VIDEO]
  • Korean National Ballet, KBS criticized for dangerous filming location Korean National Ballet, KBS criticized for dangerous filming location
  • National Theater Company pursues barrier-free, reduction of carbon footprint National Theater Company pursues barrier-free, reduction of carbon footprint
  • Popera singer Lim Hyung-joo: Music is my destiny Popera singer Lim Hyung-joo: Music is my destiny
  • HyunA to drop new EP, ending yearlong hiatus HyunA to drop new EP, ending yearlong hiatus
DARKROOM
  • Biden takes office as 46th president

    Biden takes office as 46th president

  • Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape

    Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape

  • Second Trump impeachment

    Second Trump impeachment

  • Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

    Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

  • Our children deserve better (Part 2)

    Our children deserve better (Part 2)

WooriBank
  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright