The three major mobile carriers are building a joint 5G network for rural areas.
Development of a joint network management system in the first half of this year
Plans are in place to complete commercialization by the first half of 2024.


As discontent grows over the fact that the proportion of 5G connections among domestic 5G smartphone users remains in the 15% range, it appears that the construction of a nationwide 5G network will have to wait until 2024 at the earliest.

On the 15th, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the three major mobile carriers (SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus) announced the 'Rural 5G Joint Use Plan' to provide 5G services to rural areas such as towns and counties. The three mobile carriers signed a business agreement for cooperation in joint use of rural networks.

The plan was first raised at a meeting of the CEOs of the three major mobile carriers in July of last year, and was prepared after discussions on the technology method, target area, and service provision period for over six months and consultations with the ruling and opposition parties at the 'Rural 5G Joint Use Task Force' operated by the Ministry of Science and ICT since September of last year.

The target area is comprised of townships and townships in 131 cities and counties. With a population density of approximately 92 people per square kilometer and home to approximately 15% of the country's total population, these areas have a lower population density than the areas where the three major mobile carriers have established base stations (approximately 85% of the total population, with a population density of approximately 3,490 people per square kilometer). The shared use service is also available to overseas arrivals and subscribers to mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs).

Distribution of regional network construction will take into account the number of regional facilities constructed, traffic, etc. △SKT will be in charge of part of Gyeonggi-do, part of Gyeongsangnam-do, Sejong Special Self-Governing City, Incheon Metropolitan City, South Chungcheong Province, and part of North Chungcheong Province; △KT will be in charge of part of Gangwon-do, part of Gyeonggi-do, part of South Gyeongsang Province, North Gyeongsang Province, and part of North Chungcheong Province; △LGU+ will be in charge of part of Gangwon-do, South Jeolla Province, North Jeolla Province, and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.

The three mobile carriers have adopted a Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) approach, sharing only base stations. During the network design process, they plan to apply common quality standards within shared areas and design customized 5G equipment based on terrain characteristics, such as tunnels.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the three mobile carriers will develop a joint network management system in the first half of this year and begin resetting network equipment IP addresses to prevent communication failures. Based on the pilot results, they will then begin network stabilization efforts, aiming for commercialization by the first half of 2024.