Assemblyman Yongbin Lee: "Despite High 5G Complaints, Number of Base Stations Decreases"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] While consumer complaints about 5G services are surging, it has been revealed that the number of 5G base stations in major cities such as Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Daegu has actually decreased.

Rep. Lee Yibin (Gwangju Gwangsan-gu Gap, Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee) stated on the 8th during the National Assembly inspection of the Korea Communications Agency and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency, “In 2019, when the world’s first 5G commercialization was announced, it was promised that all citizens would be able to use 5G services without inconvenience, but complaints from 5G users remain high.”

He continued, “Comparing the data from the end of April and the end of August, the number of base stations has rather decreased.”

As of the end of August, the total number of 5G base stations installed nationwide was 175,577. However, compared to the number of base stations reported as completed at the end of April, the numbers decreased by 983 in Seoul, 1,278 in Gyeonggi Province, 307 in Incheon, 142 in Daegu, 571 in Daejeon, 16 in Busan, and 12 in Chungnam.

Rep. Lee pointed out, “The number of base stations has decreased mainly in large cities with high populations, showing a lack of consideration for 5G users.”

The Korea Communications Agency explained, “The status as of April was based on completion reports, while the data at the end of August was based on completion inspections.”

However, according to current regulations, completion inspections should be conducted within 45 days after the completion report, so Rep. Lee finds it puzzling that the number of base stations has decreased even after four months.

Rep. Lee emphasized, “There are criticisms that mobile carriers are repeatedly submitting reports to avoid the authorities’ scrutiny and then immediately withdrawing them. There is also suspicion that mobile carriers are not repairing or maintaining wireless stations that failed inspections but are instead shutting them down without replenishing the deficient number, which may have resulted in the decrease in the number of base stations.”

He added, “Last year during the National Assembly inspection, I pointed out the severe shortage of 5G base stations in rural fishing and farming areas, but this time I am pointing out the decrease in base stations in large cities with high numbers of 5G users. Mobile carriers need to actively improve their services for consumers using 5G.”

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