SK, KT, LG reclaim U+ 5G spectrum | Jobs Vox

KT and LG U+ are losing some of their 5G spectrum due to their inability to fully utilize it, while SK Telecom’s license for the same 5G spectrum will be six months shorter than its November 2023 expiration date.

The ICT Ministry’s decision will come into force on Friday.

The spectrum is being reclaimed after the companies failed to meet the base station rollout criteria set out in the license agreement.

ICT made this decision on November 18 and held a hearing on the issue in early December.

The reclaimed spectrum is 28 gigahertz, which is faster than the 3.5 gigahertz spectrum available for mid-band spectrum for 5G services. The companies were supposed to install 15,000 base stations each by 2021, but only achieved 10-12 percent of the target.

Despite the government’s various efforts to promote the use of high-band spectrum, it is regrettable that this has been the result, said Choi Woo-hak, head of spectrum policy at the Ministry of Science and Information Technology.

According to the ministry, the three telecommunications companies expressed regret for not fulfilling their obligations during the court hearing, but did not oppose the government’s decision.

For companies, high base station costs and low demand for ultra-fast 5G make the investment commercially unviable.

The ministry made an exception for a project to install high-bandwidth 5G WiFi modules in Seoul subway stations. KT and LG U+ will allow the project to use the 28 gigahertz frequency until November next year.

LG U+ is currently running a pilot project using the 28 gigahertz spectrum, which has been approved by the ministry for project use only.

The government is hoping to auction off one of the licenses from KT and LG U+. Promotions and incentives to attract new players will be released in January next year.

BY SHIN HA [[email protected]]