KT, SKT, LG rush to launch cheap 5G services

A KT employee explains the newly launched KT Simple 5G data plan to a customer at a KT authorized dealer store in Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of KT

By Kim Hyun-bin

KT became the first telecom company in the country, Monday, to launch mid-tier fifth generation (5G) rate plans for customers who sign up in stores as well as online, with SKT looking to launch its own affordable plan in the near future. KT launched two mid-tier rate plans ― one in the 40,000 won range and one in the 60,000 won range.

This comes after local telecom companies have been heavily criticized for expensive rates and lack of nationwide 5G connectivity.

The move comes as 5G network issues are set to become a focus in the upcoming government inspections as the 5G rate plans are viewed as heavily overpriced, with some exceeding 130,000 won a month despite lax 5G coverage.

KT announced that it will launch two mid-tier rate plans dubbed 5G Save and 5G Simple.

The 5G Save plan costs 45,000 won a month for people who do not use their data service very often. It provides 5GB of data monthly and after the data is used up users will be switched to an unlimited 400-kilobyte data service.

The 5G Simple is an unlimited 5G data plan with a price tag of 69,000 won a month that provides 110GB of data a month, 10 GB of which can be shared with other smart devices including tablet PCs.

“Through the launching of mid-tier 5G rate plans we plan to provide diverse options for customers,” Yi Seong-hwan, head of 5G/GiGA at KT, said Monday, “KT will work so it can offer higher-quality products and services to our customers.”

SKT is also planning to launch mid-tier 5G rates.

“We are preparing to newly launch 5G rates for customers, but we cannot give specific launch dates at this time. We will make an announcement once the specific details have been ironed out,” an official at SKT said.

LG Uplus launched its 5G Direct plan in March that provides unlimited data and calls for 65,000 won a month, but it is only for customers who register online through their official website.