The Ministry of Science and ICT has given SKT advance notice of its decision to cancel the allocation of the 5G 28GHz frequency band.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 12th that it had conducted an implementation inspection of SKT for the end of the 5th generation (5G) 28 GHz frequency and had notified the company in advance of the cancellation of allocation.

At the end of December last year, the Ministry of Science and ICT imposed restrictions on the four mobile carriers for failing to meet the conditions imposed when allocating 5G frequencies in 2018.

KT and LG U+ were notified of cancellation, and SKT was notified of a shortened 28GHz frequency usage period from 5 years to 4 years and 6 months, and that if they fail to build 15,000 devices, the original allocation condition, by May 31, 2023, when the usage period ends, their allocation will be cancelled.

As the end of SKT's 28GHz frequency usage period approaches, the Ministry of Science and ICT received and reviewed SKT's performance and future plans in early May.

As a result of the inspection, SKT announced that as of May 4, the number of devices deployed in the 28GHz band network was 1,650, and that there were no plans for additional deployments until May 31. Accordingly, advance notice was given of the cancellation of allocation due to non-fulfillment of frequency allocation conditions.

In the future, the Ministry of Science and ICT will hold a hearing to hear the opinions of businesses regarding this preliminary disposition in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, and will implement the final disposition at the end of May based on the results.

Choi Woo-hyuk, director of the Ministry of Science and ICT's Radio Policy Bureau, said, "We will continue to work to encourage new operators to enter the 28 GHz band and, by activating competition in the communications market, ensure that citizens can enjoy higher-quality 5G services."

Meanwhile, in February, the government announced that it would prioritize allocating one of the two bands, the 800MHz band, to new operators to secure a market position. The other band will be allocated three years after the first operator launches service.

Additionally, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it would begin actively seeking new operators for the 5G specialized network, and excluded the three mobile carriers from the target.

The telecommunications industry, despite government support, is expressing difficulties in securing profitability, while actively participating in the 5G specialized network (Ieum 5G) business.

As it is believed that 28GHz can be significantly utilized in 5G specialized networks, the three major mobile carriers are taking proactive steps by supporting the development of 5G business models for operators aspiring to become 5G specialized network operators.

With the future of investment in a nationwide 5G 28GHz frequency band, a gateway to 6G, uncertain, the government is struggling to find new operators.