10 Years of Altteul Phone Service... 6 Companies Jointly Develop Innovative Models

Nearly 10 Million Altteul Phone Subscribers Approaching
Discovering AI and IoT Technology-Linked Models
Launching Specialized Plans for Socially Marginalized Groups

Six Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) signed a "Policy Research Agreement (MOU) for Discovering New Value and Promoting Industry Development to Revitalize Affordable Phone Services" on the 26th. From the left, Jo Yong-min, MediaLog Manager; Jeon Seung-bae, KT M Mobile Director; Lee Se-yeon, StageFive Manager; Kim Kwang-joo, SK Telink Director; Baek Min-hyeop, Sejong Telecom Director; and Oh In-hwan, Smatel Director are posing for a commemorative photo at the signing ceremony. Photo by StageFive

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Discount phone operators are launching a joint research project to discover innovative models in celebration of the 10th anniversary of their service launch.

On the 26th, six Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) announced on the 28th that they had signed a "Policy Research Agreement (MOU) for Discovering New Value and Industrial Development to Revitalize Discount Phone Services."

The participating companies are Stage Five, Medialog, Sejong Telecom, Smartel, SK Telink, and KT M Mobile, totaling six companies.

This agreement was made as a result of the 10th anniversary of the discount phone service, supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT. The number of MVNO subscribers is approaching 10 million.

Jang Seok-young, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, conveyed in a written congratulatory message, "I sincerely congratulate the signing of the agreement for joint research on discount phones," adding, "The government is promoting the Digital New Deal, and for the discount phone market to continue growing, it is important to discover new business models applying new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). In this regard, this joint research agreement has great significance for revitalizing discount phones and creating convergence services."

He continued, "It is expected that the outcomes to be derived in the future will be promising as discount phone operators unite their intentions to conduct joint research for the overall market development," and added, "I ask that you actively propose directions for the development of the discount phone market and new convergence service models through joint research. The government will also strive to faithfully reflect the visions and policy proposals presented by the operators in policy formulation."

Through this MOU, policy research will proceed in three directions. First, ▲ developing MVNO models that can provide consumers with more diverse values through paradigm innovation of the existing voice-centered industry ▲ enhancing directions for the development of the MVNO ecosystem in the era of Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) and Internet of Everything (IoE) ▲ deriving common agendas, conducting research, and proposing policies to revitalize the industry are the core focuses.

Additionally, the research aims to ▲ discover new product values based on AIoT ▲ establish an MVNO support system suitable for various SaaS businesses ▲ discover subscription-based service models based on MVNO ▲ derive ideas for inclusive MVNO policies and share the contents. Joint research will officially begin next month after selecting research topics.

The six companies plan, through the MOU, to propose various device joint sourcing responses and new types of business infrastructure models like Japan's MVNE to revitalize MVNOs. They will establish a linkage system that can bundle existing MVNO plans with various external services and lay the foundation for specialized rate plans with a public goods nature for socially marginalized groups.

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