Mobile Carriers to Complete Commercialization of 5G Network Sharing in Rural Areas Within 3 Years

Ministry of Science and ICT Announces 'Rural 5G Shared Usage Plan'
Aiming to Complete Rural 5G by First Half of 2024 through Network Sharing Among Telecom Operators

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] The three major mobile carriers have agreed to jointly build 5G wireless communication facilities in rural fishing and farming areas and complete commercialization within three years. With the joint use of wireless communication facilities, 5G services can be provided even in areas where each carrier has not independently built a network, which is expected to accelerate the expansion of 5G service coverage in South Korea.

On the 15th, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the three mobile carriers held a meeting at the Kensington Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, and announced the ‘Rural 5G Joint Use Plan’ to promptly provide 5G services in rural towns and townships. The three carriers signed a business agreement to cooperate in the joint use of networks in rural areas to enhance nationwide 5G service accessibility and reduce the 5G service gap between urban and rural areas.

The three carriers will start developing necessary technologies such as a joint network management system from the first half of this year, begin network construction by mid-second half, and conduct pilot commercialization within the year. After analyzing and evaluating the pilot results, they plan to complete phased commercialization by the first half of 2024 through necessary measures such as network stabilization. If the construction of base stations in 85 administrative districts by the three carriers proceeds as scheduled, the expansion of 5G coverage in South Korea is expected to accelerate.

The 5G joint use service will target towns and townships located in 131 cities and counties, considering population density and data traffic. These areas account for about 15% of the country’s total population, with approximately 92 people per square kilometer, which is lower in population density compared to areas where carriers individually build base stations (about 85% of the total population, approximately 3,490 people per square kilometer). In the 5G joint use network areas, the service will be provided without discrimination not only to 5G users of the three carriers but also to overseas entrants and MVNO subscribers. The distribution of network construction by region was determined based on the number of facilities to be built and traffic in each area.

The technical method was decided as the MOCN (Multi Operator Core Network) approach, which allows the joint use of base stations, considering the need for each carrier to use its own core network to provide differentiated services and the need for rapid 5G service provision. Additionally, during network design, common quality standards will be applied within joint use areas, and 5G equipment will be customized according to terrain features such as tunnels and roads. In case of faults or failures, the three carriers will respond through a hotline and a joint network management system they operate. Furthermore, data usage, network switching in boundary areas between each carrier’s construction regions and joint use regions will be continuously monitored, and quality management efforts will be made by sharing information through hotlines among carriers.

The Ministry of Science and ICT will continuously monitor the joint use of rural 5G as part of its proactive administrative tasks, from preparation to network stabilization and commercialization stages, until it is firmly established. Minister Choi Ki-young of the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "The rural 5G joint use will become a desirable cooperation case among the three domestic carriers," and added, "Through this joint use plan, we expect to early resolve the 5G gap between urban and rural areas and lay the foundation for a digitally inclusive society."