"Korea Ranks No.1 in 5G Worldwide...Excellent Speed and Accessibility"

IHS Markit, 2020 Second Half
Cloud Gaming Environment Analysis

IHS Markit RootMetrics' LG Uplus 5G and LTE speed measurement results. LG Uplus recorded a median 5G download speed of 476.5 Mbps, ranking first among the three major carriers.

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Among the three domestic mobile carriers, LG Uplus's 5G service speed was found to be the fastest according to a market survey. It also received the highest scores in terms of accessibility and latency. When compared globally with countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, the results are remarkable.

On the 16th, global market research firm IHS Markit RootMetrics revealed this in its report titled "Mobile Cloud Gaming in Seoul," based on tests conducted in Seoul during the second half of 2020.

Mobile cloud gaming refers to users playing games by connecting to a wireless network-based cloud instead of using a gaming PC or single-player console games. Since hyperconnectivity is key, the quality of the communication network is a major variable.

The main evaluation criteria were Google's Stadia speed recommendations and Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass latency recommendations for mobile cloud gaming. Packet loss (the amount lost due to interference during transmission within the network) and jitter (mechanical disturbances) were also measured and factored in.

Among the 3 Carriers, LG Uplus Ranks First in 5G

The fastest 5G speed among operators is LG Uplus. LG Uplus's median 5G download speed was 476.5 Mbps, surpassing SK Telecom (436.2 Mbps) and KT (425.8 Mbps).

LG Uplus also has the most extensively deployed 5G network. It provides approximately 90.9% 5G coverage within the Seoul area, offering the highest accessibility. KT and SK Telecom showed 71.3% accessibility.

In terms of latency, LG Uplus recorded the lowest median latency at 20.5 ms. KT was similar at 25.0 ms, while SK Telecom had the longest latency at 45.0 ms.

5G Download Speed Measurement Results by Major Countries and Cities (Based on Highest Values by Operators) Data=IHS Markit RootMetrics

"Korea Possesses the Strongest 5G Worldwide"

The report gave an overall positive evaluation of the three domestic mobile carriers in terms of accessibility, speed, and latency, and mentioned the global potential for 5G service development. It stated, "Operators in Seoul provide uninterrupted communication services," and "The 5G results show that Seoul ranks among the strongest globally, including major cities such as Switzerland, the UK, and the US."

It also analyzed that 5G offers qualitatively superior gaming experiences compared to 4G LTE. The report noted, "Gaming experiences on 5G were significantly better than on 4G LTE," adding, "Carriers recorded an average 5G download speed of at least 425 Mbps, and latency did not exceed 45.0 ms."

Kevin Hasley, CEO of RootMetrics, said, "The 5G availability, speed, and packet loss observed in Seoul demonstrate that 5G can fundamentally improve the gaming experience for users and that other countries can also provide better 5G performance."

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