Cash Gifts Paid on Installation Day Attract Consumers When Subscribing to KT, SK, LGUplus Internet and Internet TV Bundles

The Ministry of Science and ICT has designated high-speed internet as a universal service, allowing users in mountainous and remote areas to access high-speed internet from January 1st of this year if they wish. As a result, customers who were previously unable to use high-speed internet services due to installation restrictions can now receive high-speed internet service.

However, since KT Olleh provides the universal service for high-speed internet, only KT telecommunications internet can be installed, not all telecom companies.

Meanwhile, with the news of high-speed internet as a universal service and the increase in domestic high-speed internet subscribers, more consumers are looking into internet subscriptions from the three major telecom companies: SK Broadband (SK Telecom), Olleh KT, and LG Uplus. Along with this, as single-person households increase, inquiries related to home internet, one-room internet, apartment internet, officetel internet, and studio apartment internet installations, as well as internet speeds?namely high-speed internet (100 Mbps, Baekmega) or gigabit internet (500 Mbps, 1 Gbps)?are on the rise.

Consequently, depending on internet usage, the popularity of internet comparison sites?where users can receive recommendations for the optimal internet speed and IPTV bundle products rather than just the lowest price, aiming to use affordable internet at reasonable costs?is expected to continue for some time.

This phenomenon persists despite the wired prize notification system reducing the maximum possible cash support for internet subscriptions, installation cash, and change-of-service cash payments. Since this law applies to all high-speed internet subscription channels and companies can provide up to an additional 15% based on sales discretion within the guideline, online subscription centers such as internet comparison sites still hold a relative competitive advantage.

So, what is the safe way to use KT, SK, or LG Uplus internet comparison sites, which can be understandably uneasy due to their non-face-to-face nature?

A representative from ‘Penguin Communication,’ a formally approved corporate company that passed the Korea Association for ICT Promotion (KAIT) screening, advised, “Reputable companies strictly adhere to the prize notification law standards and internet telecom company guidelines to protect consumers and normalize the industry. Therefore, verifying the company’s transparency, activity level, and whether they provide the highest possible amount within the guidelines is the safest approach.”

Among internet comparison sites, ‘Penguin Communication,’ which is popular for its differentiated policy of providing cash gifts on the day of installation, is known to pay cash gifts on the same day for installations completed before 4 PM. Installations after 4 PM are paid the next business day.

According to the representative, “Penguin Communication is an officially approved internet subscription corporate company by KAIT and holds its own telecom company codes, allowing it to verify customers’ internet installation status through its system.”

They added, “To alleviate consumers’ anxiety while waiting for gift payments after internet installation, we operate a differentiated policy of providing cash support on the day of installation.”

Even after the implementation of the prize notification system, the internet comparison site Penguin Communication continues to pay the legal maximum amount (+15%) of 460,000 KRW on the day of installation.