[The Editors' Verdict] 5G Policy Mismatch Must Be Corrected

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) is causing controversy by introducing regulations that require the consent of at least two-thirds of residents and approval from local governments when installing mobile communication base stations or repeaters in apartment complexes.

Last July, MOLIT added provisions related to communication facilities such as mobile communication base stations and repeaters to the Enforcement Decree of the Housing Act, including them under the category of "apartment complex auxiliary facilities," thereby subjecting them to regulations under the Apartment Complex Management Act. Until now, installations were possible through negotiations between telecom companies and resident representatives. The telecom industry is bewildered by MOLIT's introduction of these stringent regulations. While residents expect smooth mobile communication in their apartments, many irrationally oppose installations out of vague concerns about electromagnetic wave damage. Convincing all residents each time a base station or repeater is installed requires enormous time and cost, and may even be impossible.

In response to the economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Korean government is promoting a Digital New Deal. One of the core tasks of this project is the construction of 5G mobile communication infrastructure. The government plans to build 5G networks early in the public service sector to secure service models. In this context, the new regulation requiring two-thirds resident consent and local government approval for building base stations or repeaters is a very serious problem. MOLIT’s regulation seems to be a huge mismatch with the government’s policy direction.

Recognizing the urgency of building 5G infrastructure to counter the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 and to expand non-face-to-face services, major countries such as the United States, China, and Japan are easing regulations and accelerating competition in 5G infrastructure construction. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued an administrative order to upgrade 5G and is promoting a $9 billion 5G fund. Japan is encouraging 5G infrastructure expansion through tax credits, offering a 15% corporate tax credit to new 5G network builders. Korea’s tax credit for 5G investment is about 2%. China plans to invest 300 trillion won by 2030 to expand 5G nationwide.

Korea was the first country in the world to commercialize 5G. 5G infrastructure is expected to play a key role in creating new services and building an innovative ecosystem. The data transmission speed of 5G is 20 times faster than LTE, and latency is significantly reduced, making real-time responsiveness more precise. In the 5G era, new services unseen in 4G will be experienced in fields such as gaming, education, and sports. Based on 5G, investments must be further expanded for developing new services like the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), and content. These new types of services will create synergistic effects among telecom operators as well as numerous small and medium-sized equipment, component, and software companies, enabling new job creation and innovative growth.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is characterized by data-based artificial intelligence (AI) centered on 5G and platforms. AI operates based on enormous amounts of data. It continuously evolves through deep learning on accumulated data; the more data accumulated, the more AI evolves and approaches perfection. To accumulate large amounts of data, infrastructure that transmits data at high speed, such as 5G, is essential. Additionally, non-face-to-face services are rapidly growing across all industries after COVID-19, and the core infrastructure supporting this is 5G. To establish national innovation momentum, robust 5G infrastructure is absolutely necessary, so obstacles to 5G expansion must be removed as soon as possible. As the problem grew, MOLIT stepped back, leaving room for interpretation of the law and said it would seek alternatives in consultation with the Ministry of Science and ICT. Hopefully, this will be resolved well.

Im Juhwan, Advisor, Korea Information and Communication Industry Association