Telecom Companies Supporting Communication-Disadvantaged with Unlimited Educational Content and Double Video Call Data...

Three Major Telecoms Launch 5G Disability Plans
Additional Data Provided for Small Business Owners

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus, the three major mobile carriers, have started initiatives from the beginning of the year to support the 'communication vulnerable.' They launched a ‘5G Disabled Plan’ that doubles the amount of video call minutes and provide an additional 100GB of data to small business owners and self-employed individuals struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As communication has become an essential commodity in the increasingly fast-paced untact society, they have rolled up their sleeves to support vulnerable groups to prevent the digital divide from widening further.

According to industry sources on the 10th, LG Uplus will launch a 5G Disabled Plan on the 22nd that increases video call minutes by 600 minutes. Following LG Uplus, SK Telecom and KT are preparing to launch similar plans in April.

The 5G Disabled Plan is designed for hearing and visually impaired users who require a large amount of video call minutes, featuring double the video call minutes compared to regular plans. Considering that mobile carriers already offer up to a 35% discount on communication fees for disabled users, the three carriers focused on expanding useful benefits for the disabled.

Additionally, the three carriers will provide related supplementary services throughout the year so that low-income students can freely use educational content such as EBS on their smartphones without data burden. Services like the EBS Data Pack and EBS Data Safety Option, which cost about 6,600 KRW per month, will be shared between the government and the carriers. This is expected to contribute to reducing educational disparities caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Dedicated services for the elderly who are not familiar with digital services will also be introduced. Starting this month, the newly established ‘Silver Safety Service’ will notify a pre-designated family member or acquaintance via text message when seniors aged 65 or older or intellectually disabled individuals change their plans. The three carriers will also open dedicated communication service counseling centers for seniors. SK Telecom will operate centers at Uijeongbu and Boramae branches, KT at Gangbuk and Gangnam direct stores, and LG Uplus at Jongno and Chongshindae direct stores.

These measures have attracted attention as the digital divide continues to widen amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The three carriers actively responded to the concerns of Minister Choi Ki-young of the Ministry of Science and ICT, who has consistently emphasized ‘digital inclusion.’ At a CEO meeting with the three carriers held the previous afternoon, Minister Choi stressed the importance of closing the digital divide, calling it "a big step toward realizing an inclusive society that everyone enjoys together."

Support measures have also been prepared for small business owners and self-employed individuals facing difficulties due to COVID-19. The three carriers will provide an additional 100GB of data over two months to small business owners and self-employed individuals using small business exclusive products. Furthermore, for business owners in lodging, PC rooms, and other sectors who wish to temporarily suspend communication services such as high-speed internet used at their business locations, the suspension period, which was previously limited to three months, will be extended to six months. During the Lunar New Year holidays from the 11th to the 14th, free video calls will be provided to all citizens (excluding prepaid phone users).

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