"011·017 Real Goodbye" 2G Ends...Into History After 25 Years

SK Telecom to End 2G Following KT
LG Uplus to Discuss by Year-End
Strong Opposition from 010 Integration Resistance Headquarters
Government Firm: "No Exceptions for 010 Integration"

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] SK Telecom's 2G service, which still had 384,000 subscribers as of June 1, officially ended today. At midnight, nationwide reception and transmission of SK Telecom's 2G service were cut off. This marks the end of SK Telecom's 2G service after 25 years.

Accordingly, phone numbers starting with '011' and '017', rather than '010', will disappear into history. With LG Uplus, the last provider, also beginning discussions on ending its 2G service, the space for users of 01X numbers is expected to shrink even further.

011 and 017... Into History After 25 Years

According to industry sources on the 27th, SK Telecom's 2G service officially ended at midnight, with Seoul being the last city to lose service. SK Telecom had previously ended 2G service starting July 6 in Gangwon, Gyeongsang, Sejong, Jeolla, Jeju, and Chungcheong (excluding metropolitan cities), followed by metropolitan cities such as Gwangju, Daegu, Daejeon, Busan, and Ulsan on the 13th, and finally Gyeonggi and Incheon on the 20th.

2G opened the era of mobile phone popularization in the mid-1990s by adding text messaging to voice calls. SK Telecom's 'Speed011' secured over 50% market share, laying the foundation for its current position as the industry leader. However, with the advent of 3rd generation (3G) mobile communication and the smartphone era in 2010, 2G was rapidly pushed out of the market.

LG Uplus, known as the 'last stronghold' of 01X numbers, is also reportedly starting discussions on ending its 2G service, which is expected to further narrow the options for 01X users. Mobile carriers must decide on frequency reassignment six months before the expiration of their licenses, so LG Uplus is expected to conclude its decision on ending 2G service by the end of this year at the latest.

Opposition to 010 Integration Remains Strong

Consumer opposition still remains. On the 21st of this month, the Seoul Administrative Court dismissed a provisional injunction request filed by about 400 01X users to halt the termination of SK Telecom's 2G service. However, an administrative lawsuit filed by 01X users against the Ministry of Science and ICT regarding the cancellation of SK Telecom's approval to discontinue the 2G service is ongoing. Members of the 010 Integration Opposition Movement Headquarters plan to appeal to the Supreme Court with a 'number portability claim lawsuit' against SK Telecom.

What consumers want most is 'number portability.' The government's '010 number integration policy,' which began in 2002, stipulates that from 3G onward, numbers starting with 011 or 017 cannot be used, only 010. Therefore, the termination of 2G service effectively means the disappearance of 01X numbers, causing significant dissatisfaction among subscribers. However, the Ministry of Science and ICT maintains a firm stance. Since mobile phone numbers are public resources managed by the state, and considering the continuity of the '010 integration policy' and fairness to other citizens who have already switched from 01X to 010, the conversion of 011 and 017 subscribers to 010 must be applied 'without exception.'

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