By Jun Ji-hye – The Korea Times
Companies in Korea and the United States are engaged in a cutthroat competition for the title of the world’s first fifth-generation (5G) networks services provider.
The competition has become fiercer after U.S.-based telecommunications company Verizon said March 13 that it was going to launch its 5G networks on April 11 in several cities including Chicago.
Korean mobile carriers were originally planning to fully commercialize the world’s first 5G network services by the end of March, but the plan has hit a snag due to a delay in the launch of 5G smartphones and approval of subscriber plans.
The delay raised the possibility that Korea’s plan could be postponed until sometime in April, but following the U.S. firm’s announcement, Korean companies and the government appear to be rushing to launch the services no later than April 10 in order to grab the title of the “world’s first 5G service provider.”
Officials at telecom companies here said the key to the plan is the on-time launch of 5G smartphones.
“We have finished preparations for the launch of 5G services as we sent the first 5G signal on Dec. 1,” an official from a telecom company said, asking not to be named.
Samsung Electronics was originally expected to launch the Galaxy S10 5G model later this month, but this has been postponed, with industry sources saying the firm seems to need more time for testing.
Amid growing concerns over missing the title, Samsung Galaxy S10 5G model has recently acquired a certification for electromagnetic wave testing by the National Radio Research Agency.
It is essential for communication device manufactures to achieve such a certification to launch products on the domestic market.
As the tech company acquired the certification, it is expected to deliver 5G smartphones to mobile carriers at the earliest possible date.
Some vernacular newspapers reported Samsung planned to officially launch the Galaxy S10 5G model, April 5.
But there are still variables as the Ministry of Science and ICT has yet to approve SK Telecom’s (SKT) pricing plan for 5G services. The nation’s top mobile carrier needs to receive approval from the government to introduce new payment systems.
On March 5, the ministry said it did not approve SKT’s pricing plan as the firm designed expensive fee systems only for those using massive data.
SKT is currently adjusting its pricing plan to again seek government approval again.
Two other mobile carriers, KT and LG Uplus, may have no choice but to wait for SKT to get approval, before designing their own fee systems, which is raising uncertainty about the schedule.
An official from the ministry said, “The government has been keenly cooperating with mobile carriers and smartphone makers based on the belief that it is most important to offer the highest level of 5G services for a successful launch.”
He noted the government will continue to push the launch of the world’s first commercial 5G service.