Government Investigates 5G·LTE Communication Gaps
Most Areas Improved but Some Remain
Partial KTX Sections and Busan Catholic University
Last year, the communication quality in areas where 5G and LTE speeds were slow or signal strength was weak was mostly improved. Out of the 80 locations subject to government inspection, only 4 received unsatisfactory evaluations.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency (NIA) announced on the 30th the results of a re-inspection on whether quality improvements were made in 80 locations previously identified as having poor communication service quality last year.
Starting this year, government evaluations of 5G communication service quality in indoor facilities have been significantly strengthened. Accordingly, the Ministry of Science and ICT conducted re-inspections not only on 31 5G and 15 LTE poor-quality areas but also on whether the 5G connection availability rate improved in 34 facilities with poor 5G connectivity.
The re-inspection results showed that LTE was improved in all locations, but 5G still showed poor quality and connection availability in 4 locations.
Regarding 5G poor-quality areas, SK Telecom and KT both improved all their locations, but LG Uplus had one location that remained unimproved. The unimproved area is the 'KTX Gyeongbu Line section from Gwangmyeong to Osong.'
For the newly re-inspected 5G connectivity poor facilities this year, LG Uplus improved all, but SK Telecom had one unimproved location and KT had two. SK Telecom's unimproved facility is on the KTX Jungang Line, and KT's are on the KTX Jungbu Naeryuk Line and at Busan Catholic University.
By telecom operator, the number of poor-quality areas and 5G connectivity poor facilities last year were 42 for KT, 34 for LG Uplus, and 31 for SK Telecom. This year's re-inspection results confirmed improvements in 40 locations (95%) for KT, 33 locations (97%) for LG Uplus, and 30 locations (97%) for SK Telecom.
Lee Do-gyu, Director of the Communications Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "While LTE service quality has been improved in all poor-quality areas, there are still places where 5G service quality is insufficient, requiring continuous quality investment efforts from telecom operators. The four locations identified as poor-quality will be re-inspected in the second half's communication service quality evaluation to confirm whether quality improvements have been made."
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