20,000 KRW Range 20GB Budget Phone Plans Gain Popularity... 10 More Providers Expected to Join

Ministry of Science and ICT Holds March Briefing
"Subscriber Growth Rate More Than Doubled"

Ryu Jemyung, Director of Network Policy Bureau, Ministry of Science and ICT

Due to the government's improvement of the budget phone policy, the number of subscribers to plans offering 20 gigabytes (GB) of 5th generation (5G) data for around 10,000 won per month is rapidly increasing. Currently, three providers have launched such plans, and it is expected that the number will grow to about ten providers in the future.

On the 11th, Ryu Jae-myung, Director of the Network Policy Office at the Ministry of Science and ICT, announced this during a briefing on the progress of key national projects at the Government Seoul Office.

Director Ryu stated, "To alleviate the burden of communication fees, we revised the budget phone wholesale price notice on the 21st of last month," adding, "Currently, three providers have launched 20GB plans priced in the 10,000 won range, all of whom have contracts with SK Telecom, the wholesale service provider."

He continued, "For providers planning to launch (10,000 won range plans) in the future, they are currently all SK Telecom-oriented," and "It has been confirmed that about ten providers are preparing such plans."

Additionally, he said, "Negotiations on wholesale prices with KT and LG Uplus are also underway," and predicted that among budget phone providers using the networks of these two telecom companies, 5G 20GB plans will also be introduced.

Regarding market response, Director Ryu said, "Compared to the subscription trend of recently popular plans, the number is growing at about twice the speed," and added, "I heard that the plans are so popular that customers have to wait to subscribe."