5G subscribers match nearly half of 4G in S. Korea

5G, in service since 2019, has quickly become mainstream in South Korea with subscribers at 24 million as of the end of May versus 4G users (47 million), according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. SK Telecom commanded the largest 11.4 million 5G mobile users, followed by KT with 7.3 million and LG Uplus with 5.2 million. Mobile virtual network operators have a combined 83,256 users. 4G users are on a steady fall while 5G users continue to grow. Telcos expect 5G subscriptions would grow even faster when cheaper data plans are launched, possibly in the third quarter, per the government’s drive to ease the phone bill payment burden for households.

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