"Even If Unable to Pay Communication Fees, Must Be Able to Receive Infectious Disease Texts"

No Interruption in Infectious Disease Information Despite Overdue Telecom Bills
Public Safety Information Must Be Supplied Without Discrimination to Prevent Harm to the Majority
Network Congestion Due to COVID-19 Traffic Surge
Major Countries Strengthen Monitoring... Network Load Needs Reassessment

On the 4th, residents are lining up in front of a pharmacy in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to purchase masks as the government is considering a plan to sell masks exclusively at pharmacies. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis prolongs, there is a call that infectious disease information directly related to national safety should be accessible to all citizens regardless of overdue communication fees. This is because any gap in providing infectious disease information could affect a large number of people.

Vulnerable Groups Unable to Pay Communication Fees Must Receive Infectious Disease Information Without Discrimination

On the 25th, the Korea Information Society Development Institute pointed out in its report titled 'Trends in Telecommunications Sector Responses of Major Countries to the Spread of COVID-19' that since infectious disease information is delivered through telecommunications, it must be provided regardless of overdue fees. Even if communication fees are unpaid, receiving disaster-related messages such as those about COVID-19 should not be interrupted.

The report emphasized, "If public safety information is not supplied timely due to overdue communication fees, gaps in infectious disease information will occur. Since the damage will ultimately be borne by the majority of citizens, access to disease information must be guaranteed at all times." It added that to prevent moral hazard such as habitual nonpayment of communication fees, strict criteria should be established for eligibility for payment deferrals and installment benefits.

Major Countries Begin Managing Network Load... Must Prepare for Traffic Surges

In fact, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made a pledge with major telecommunications companies on March 13 not to terminate services for users struggling to pay communication fees due to COVID-19, to provide discounts for overdue payments caused by COVID-19, and to open Wi-Fi hotspots. Accordingly, AT&T is offering unlimited high-speed internet data, Verizon is providing additional hotspots, and free international calls are being offered as support measures for vulnerable groups.

The report also presented overseas cases, stating, "If COVID-19 causes network congestion, traffic management measures should be implemented." The EU has begun establishing a monitoring system to assess network overload. The French government requested a two-week delay in the launch of Disney Plus due to concerns about network congestion.

The report said, "Although no significant internet service disruptions have occurred domestically since the spread of COVID-19, it is necessary to reexamine the monitoring system if the infectious disease spread prolongs."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.