From September Next Year, Smartphone eSIM Available... Telecom Companies and Samsung Electronics Also Align

Ministry of Science and ICT Promotes Improvement of eSIM System and Policy

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Starting from September 1 next year, it will be possible to use two phone numbers with different carriers on a single smartphone through eSIM usage. The government will collaborate with the industry to establish the institutional and technical foundations for the commercialization of eSIM, including system upgrades and the release of eSIM smartphones, before the implementation date.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 21st the implementation plan for the "Smartphone eSIM Introduction Plan," which centers on this content.

eSIM, supported by some devices, functions like a physical USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module), but unlike a USIM that is physically installed in the device, users download it from the carrier using a QR code.

Using dual SIMs, which allow simultaneous use of both a physical USIM and an eSIM, will also become possible. Dual SIM enables the use of two numbers on one smartphone, which can be separated for personal and work use or domestic and international use.

While some overseas devices have allowed the use of two physical SIM cards, among devices released domestically, only models supporting dual SIM with one physical USIM and one eSIM exist, and even then, carriers have not properly supported them, making actual use difficult.

The Ministry of Science and ICT expects that with the introduction of eSIM services in Korea next September, device costs can be reduced and budget phone services, which are easy to subscribe to online, can be revitalized.

Before the introduction of eSIM, the Ministry plans to establish an institutional foundation for commercialization through system improvements, system upgrades, and the release of eSIM smartphones.

The SIM concept, currently based on physical USIMs, will be expanded to include eSIMs.

They will also revise notifications to allow the application of discounted subscription rates for additional lines opened after purchasing a device. This means that after subscribing to the first line when purchasing a device, discounted subscription rates will also apply to additional lines.

The Ministry encourages the three major carriers to develop systems that can accommodate eSIM and dual SIM. Samsung Electronics will also release smartphones with built-in eSIMs domestically in the second half of next year, continuously expanding the availability of eSIM-compatible smartphones.

In case dual SIM users lose their smartphones, an "IMEI Pre-registration Service" will be established to allow loss reports by registering only one device unique identifier (IMEI) in advance. Additionally, the government will support domestic eSIM technology research and development.

Cho Kyung-sik, the 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "Once the smartphone eSIM service is implemented, user convenience will improve, budget phones will be revitalized, and competition in the mobile communication market will be promoted." He added, "We plan to continue various policy efforts to promote competition among mobile carriers and enhance user benefits."

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