The Three Major Telecom Companies Submit Opinions to Government on 'Review of 5G Mid-Tier Pricing Plan'

Carrier avoids mentioning launch status or timing
Hwangbo Seunghee "Striving to release reasonable rate plans"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The three major telecom companies have conveyed to the government that they are considering the introduction of a 5G mid-tier pricing plan, which the Yoon Suk-yeol administration is promoting as part of measures to stabilize people’s livelihoods. However, they avoided mentioning detailed information such as whether the mid-tier plan will be launched or the timing of its introduction.

According to materials submitted by the Ministry of Science and ICT to Hwang Bo-seung-hee, a member of the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee from the People Power Party on the 1st, the three telecom companies provided such responses to the government.

SK Telecom stated to the government, "We are reviewing the launch and restructuring of various 5G plans that can expand user benefits and choices by comprehensively considering user data usage patterns and competitive situations," adding, "We ask for your understanding that we cannot submit details such as whether the mid-tier plan will be launched and its specifics due to concerns about marketing strategy exposure considering the competitive environment."

KT said, "We are currently reviewing the introduction of a 5G mid-tier pricing plan. However, the launch of the plan requires comprehensive review of various factors such as the market and competitive situation." They also conveyed the opinion, "We will continue to strive to expand customer choice."

LG Uplus told the government, "We have made efforts to launch customer-friendly 5G plans so far," and added, "We will continue to strive to provide reasonable and diverse plans by customer segments so that customers can have more varied pricing options."

People Power Party Representative Hwang Bo-seung-hee Photo by Yonhap News

Among MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) carriers, none are currently considering launching a 5G mid-tier pricing plan. The Ministry of Science and ICT informed the office of the assembly member that "the top 10 major MVNO operators, including KT M Mobile, currently have no concrete plans to launch a mid-tier plan but will monitor the provision status of mid-tier plans by the three major telecom companies and consider it in the future."

The 'Emergency Livelihood Stabilization 10 Major Projects' announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho on the 30th of last month included a plan to induce the launch of a 5G mid-tier pricing plan in the third quarter of this year. Since the 5G mid-tier pricing plan was included as a national task during the presidential transition committee before the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, it was anticipated that the new government would negotiate with the telecom industry. Consumer groups have argued for the expansion of 5G mid-tier plans, stating that among 5G plans, products in the 20?100GB monthly usage range, which users most commonly use, are insufficient.

Assembly member Hwang Bo-seung-hee said, "If the 5G mid-tier pricing plan is introduced, the burden of household communication expenses for the public will be significantly reduced," and added, "I will work to ensure that reasonable plans reflecting diverse demands are launched."

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