"Public Wi-Fi Policy Should Not Be Passive" Urged by Science and ICT Committee to Prepare Alternatives

[Asia Economy Reporter Joselgina] On the 28th, at the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee plenary meeting, a claim was raised that the government should prepare active alternatives regarding public Wi-Fi policy.

Woo Sang-ho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated during the committee's work report inquiry, "The reason public Wi-Fi is not expanding is because it must use the networks of the three major telecom companies, and from the telecom companies' perspective, this can be unfair."

On the same day, Minister Choi Ki-young of the Ministry of Science and ICT responded to Woo's question, "Does the Ministry of Science and ICT oppose Seoul City's plan to build a separate network?" by saying, "Rather than opposition, there are concerns. There are legal issues."

Earlier, Seoul City announced plans to install public Wi-Fi through a self-built private network, but the Ministry of Science and ICT views this as a violation of the Telecommunications Business Act. Under current law, to build a private network and mediate communications, registration as a telecommunications service provider is required.

Woo pointed out, "If a network is laid but Wi-Fi is installed so that one cannot use their own data, which telecom company would concede?" He added, "If it is public Wi-Fi construction but it is said that building a separate network is not allowed, isn't that contradictory?"

Minister Choi explained, "Even if public Wi-Fi is installed, there is telecom data involved, so usage fees are paid. It is not that telecom companies suffer significant losses, but that they agree to the installation of public Wi-Fi."

Woo said, "This issue should not be dismissed like that. It means we need to consider it carefully," urging more active preparation of measures, saying, "There is a public Wi-Fi policy task, and if we are passive about how to implement it, that is not acceptable."

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