Support of a total of 85,800 KRW for participants... Implementation from September to November
Support for device installment payments, OTT, and other digital services
The government is conducting a pilot project to expand its telecommunications welfare policy, which previously focused on discounts for mobile communication fees, to also include discounts on device installment payments, online video services (OTT), and music services.
On the 22nd, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that, in accordance with the Enforcement Decree of the Telecommunications Business Act, it will recruit 5,000 participants from basic livelihood security recipients (living and medical benefits) who are currently receiving telecommunications fee discounts, from today until August 29, for the Digital Voucher pilot project.
The Digital Voucher pilot project is a program that provides vouchers to vulnerable groups to enable them to use digital services, and it is being promoted to examine the feasibility of its introduction.
Participants will receive a fixed amount of 85,800 KRW (for three months) converted from their existing mobile communication fee discount amount (up to 26,000 KRW per month) as a voucher from September to November. This can be freely used not only for communication fees but also for device installment payments, telecom company additional services and affiliated products, and digital services (OTT, music, books).
To ensure an environment for using digital services, in consultation with the three mobile carriers (SK Telecom, KT, LG Uplus), each participant will also be provided with a total of 15GB of data coupons free of charge.
Pilot project participants can receive and use the digital vouchers through a post office check card (BC Card). Detailed information including participation conditions and operation methods can be found on the Digital Voucher website.
The pilot project was planned from the perspective that the telecommunications welfare policy, which has been carried out through existing telecommunications fee discounts, needs to expand and shift its paradigm to a digital inclusion and welfare policy that guarantees the use of digital devices, platforms, and content in line with the digital era.
According to the Digital Information Gap Survey by the National Information Society Agency (NIA), the digital information capability of vulnerable groups is 65.1% compared to the general public, and their utilization rate is 79.0%.
Lee Do-gyu, Director of Telecommunications Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "As the telecommunications environment centered on voice calls changes to a data-centered digital environment, it is time to discuss welfare policies suitable for the digital era," adding, "We plan to analyze the results of the pilot project operation and review the introduction of digital vouchers, including establishing new projects and expanding participants."
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