Following its pioneering efforts with LTE and 5G, South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) aims to lead the global race to commercialize 6G by 2029. However, building on its 5G experience, telecom operators are arguing for a more cautious approach, proposing a hotspot-focused strategy for 6G rollout.
According to ElecMSIT founded the 6G Association in July 2024, bringing together more than 30 experts in the mobile and satellite communications fields. Their mission is to govern 6G standards and promote market readiness.
MSIT aims to leverage South Korea’s track record in successfully deploying 5G ahead of the rest of the world in 2019 and achieve commercialization of 6G by 2029. The government considers 6G to be a crucial issue and wants to accelerate the construction of a nationwide commercial network.
However, major carriers SK Telecom (SKT), Korea Telecom (KT) and LG U+ are skeptical that 6G can recreate a nationwide network experience. South Korea’s telecom market is already saturated, with more subscribers than people, making it difficult to generate additional revenue through traditional means.
Industry experts suggest that while some users may be willing to pay a premium ARPU for 6G services, widespread upgrades like the migration to 3G, LTE and 5G are unlikely. The rollout of 5G has faced criticism and legal challenges due to issues with signal quality, coverage and application areas, necessitating a new approach.
Carriers support the development of 6G, but are cautious about immediate nationwide deployment. Instead, they recommend a strategic shift in direction. For example, Verizon’s early 5G rollout in the US focused on hotspots before expanding coverage with lower-band spectrum. Taking a similar approach with 6G could significantly reduce upfront investment costs and mitigate early service quality complaints.
Representatives from the mobile communications industry stressed that while 6G promises to increase ARPU, quality issues like those seen with 5G may negatively impact business. As South Korea’s communications market is saturated, the early commercialization of 6G needs to be carefully planned, focusing on public hotspots, to ensure a balance between innovation and market practicality.
