“From Subway 28GHz Wi-Fi to Rural Shared Networks” Government Accelerates 5G Expansion

28GHz Subway Wi-Fi Service Launch and Expansion
Rural 5G Shared Network Pilot Commercialization Start

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] The government has once again emphasized the expansion of facility investment to the three major mobile carriers to improve public accessibility to 5G services. The three carriers also pledged to maintain last year's level of investment and strive to establish rural 5G shared networks at an early stage.

The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced on the 25th the results of the 5G 28 gigahertz (GHz) subway Wi-Fi backhaul demonstration and expansion plans together with the three carriers, and launched the pilot commercialization of rural 5G shared networks.

At the 'CEO Meeting of the Three Major Carriers' held that day, discussions were held on expanding network investment, early construction of rural 5G shared networks, expansion of 28 GHz network including subway Wi-Fi, securing network stability, and youth support measures.

On the day, Minister Hyesook Lim of MSIT urged the carriers to quickly improve 5G quality and secure network stability through increased investment, and the CEOs of the three carriers promised to maintain last year's investment level until the end of the year. Minister Lim also requested efforts to ensure the early establishment of rural 5G shared networks to resolve 5G service gaps, and the three carriers agreed to expedite the overall construction areas and quantities as much as possible.

Furthermore, the three carriers agreed to prepare leading network investments and innovative service discovery plans to promptly implement the network construction plans submitted to the government. The government also committed to communicating with the industry to review difficulties and seek solutions together. Minister Lim particularly emphasized that improving subway Wi-Fi using 28 GHz is a matter with high public perception, urging continuous efforts to expand it.

Following the meeting, the results of the 28 GHz subway Wi-Fi demonstration and expansion construction plans were announced, and the opening ceremony for the pilot commercialization of rural 5G shared networks was held. Until now, MSIT and the three carriers have been working to improve the poor communication quality of Wi-Fi inside subway cars by applying 5G 28 GHz to the branch section of Seoul Subway Line 2 for Wi-Fi service improvement demonstration. The three carriers stated that through this demonstration, the introduction of 5G 28 GHz enabled Wi-Fi speeds of 600 to 700 Mbps even inside moving subway cars, confirming performance about 10 times faster than before, and plan to expand the service to the main lines of Seoul Subway (Lines 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8) by next year.

The three carriers, Seoul Metro, and Samsung Electronics also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to mutually cooperate on the demonstration results and expansion construction. Through this, Seoul Metro promised to actively support underground construction to ensure no delays in the construction schedule, and Samsung Electronics stated it would contribute to the development of the domestic industrial ecosystem by discovering various 5G 28 GHz services in cooperation with the three carriers. Especially, as this is the world's first application of 28 GHz to improve subway Wi-Fi, there are some technical shortcomings, and they plan to continuously improve Wi-Fi quality through additional device development.

Starting from this day, MSIT also began the pilot commercialization of rural 5G shared networks according to the 'Rural 5G Shared Network Plan' announced last April. Rural shared use is a method where the three carriers jointly use networks so that 5G services can be accessed even in rural areas. The three carriers have developed the necessary functions for shared use, which accommodates all three carriers' 5G subscribers on one carrier's network. They have also built 5G networks in the pilot commercialization target areas and conducted test operations from the 15th to check normal operation before full pilot commercialization.

Pilot commercialization is conducted in some towns and townships within two cities and counties nationwide, and the three carriers selected the pilot commercialization areas comprehensively considering communication quality. After this pilot commercialization, the government and the three carriers plan to conduct a comprehensive analysis of quality and implement necessary stabilization measures to carry out phase 1 commercialization within this year and complete phased commercialization by the first half of 2024.

At the event, MSIT confirmed the operation of the 5G shared network in the pilot commercialization areas together with the three carriers. SK Telecom connected via video call from Cheongju City, Chungbuk Province; KT from Pohang City, Gyeongbuk Province; and LG Uplus from Yeosu City, Jeonnam Province to conduct calls during the event.

Minister Hyesook Lim of MSIT said, “It is important to expand 5G coverage nationwide and secure communication quality in places heavily used by the public, such as subways. We will proceed smoothly with the expansion of subway Wi-Fi demonstration results and the commercialization of rural 5G shared networks, and through increased 5G investment, secure network stability and improve quality so that everyone can experience 5G services.”