[정보공개청구] Public request for SKT 30% discount online exclusive rate plan report-Minsheng Hope Headquarters

On the 29th, it was announced through the media that for the first time since the introduction of the reservation system, SK Telecom (hereinafter referred to as’SKT’) received a 30% cheap online 5G and LTE plan release report to the Ministry of Science and ICT (hereinafter referred to as’Ministry of Science and Technology’). Lost. The People’s Hope Headquarters of the Participation Solidarity (Director Hyung-soo Cho) requested the disclosure of the report reported by SKT in order to confirm the correct report content, and it will be processed on January 13th.

First report after implementation of the reservation system, growing concerns over SKT’s consensus rate system

The 5G plan has been applied for approval from SKT once in March 19th, and since it approved the lowest rate plan of KRW 55,000, it has operated only 4 to 5 rate plan sections per telecommunication company without significant changes, limiting users’ choice and high price. It has been criticized for forcing you to sign up for the plan. In particular, even today, 18 months after the 5G service was commercialized, there is still a continuation of disruption due to a lack of base stations, and it is advertised as being 20 times faster than LTE, but in reality it is only 4 times faster. In particular, in the 2021 state audit, both lawmakers and opposition lawmakers pointed out the 5G problem and demanded consumer damage compensation and the launch of a 5G mid-to-low price plan, and the representatives of the three mobile carriers promised to do so.

With the abolition of the rate authorization system and the transition to the reservation system from December 11, expectations for the launch of SKT’s 5G mid-to-low price plan, the No. 1 market share operator, have increased. However, according to the media reported on the 11th, SKT made a preliminary consultation with the Ministry of Science and Technology to report an online 5G plan that is 30% cheaper than the previous one. There was a media report saying that the brakes were put on the ground. At that time, the Participation Solidarity criticized’the online exclusive plan is a plan that can only be applied by self-sufficient users, so there are not many people to actually use it,’ and’SKT previously spent 30% of its operating expenses as marketing expenses. As most of the marketing expenses were used as illegal subsidies, it was argued that a plan should be launched that allows all 5G users to subscribe by saving operating expenses.’

Confusion caused by the operation of the opaque reservation system and the welcoming remarks of the committee members

It has not been confirmed whether the questionnaire between the Ministry of Science and Technology and the participation solidarity was reflected in the rate plan reported by SKT on the 29th. However, by analogy with the content revealed through the media, SKT’s reported plan is a 30% discount on the existing 5G plan, which is very low of KRW 55,000. It seems that it is not possible to receive a combined discount or to change the rate plan of the existing rate plan users. According to the participation alliance claim, SKT’s point of view is that even though it can save more than 32% in total, such as 25% of optional contract discount, 7% of agency fee, and unconfirmed illegal subsidy, it is a consensual rate plan that minimizes actual reduction in profits by only discounting 30%. No more or less. In addition, compared to the 40,000 won (35,000 won 6GB for 25% optional contract) rate plan for all 5G subscribers that LGU+ announced that it will launch from the 11th, SKT’s online-only plan is eligible for use, but has the effect of reducing household communication costs. It is a plan with very few troubleshooting elements of the 5G plan pointed out in. Rep. Kim Young-sik argued against the rate plan, saying,’For users of three or more combined products, expenditures increase by about 7,000 won per month.’ Nevertheless, secretary of the ruling party Cho Seung-rae, including Minister of the National Assembly Lee Won-wook, released a welcoming position for the rate plan as a press release, and Rep. Sang-ho Woo and Jun-ho Han made public comments in support of the SKT rate plan. There are also criticisms that the possibility of the Ministry of Science and Technology rejecting the application for the rate plan has been reduced due to welcoming remarks from the ruling party’s top defense lawmakers.

The status and contents of the report, and the subject of the review must be transparently disclosed.

Telecommunications businesses using frequencies that are public goods are highly public. However, with the abolition of the licensing system, how the communication costs spent by citizens are determined solely by the three mobile operators and the Ministry of Science and Technology. Under the existing accreditation system, the approval deliberation committee, in which consumer organizations participate as operating committees, was inadequate, but consumer opinions were reflected in the decision of the communication fee. No) It is not known who will review the received report. The Participation Solidarity has stated that’the status and contents of the report, the subject of review, and the criteria for review must be transparently disclosed so that the fear that the communication publicity will be weakened by pursuing profits without fulfilling the role and obligation of the key communication service providers has become a reality. Has been demanding.

SKT’s online-only plan was only known through the media, but the original report was not disclosed anywhere other than the department in charge. However, on the 29th when the plan was received, the ruling party’s defense lawmakers gave their opinions on the plan. This means that the members of the ruling party’s defensive party are the subjects of the review of the reservation system, or they have only heard SKT’s unilateral explanation in advance and expressed their opinions in favor of it. The People’s Hope Headquarters of the Participation Solidarity applied for a request for information disclosure because it was unable to express an opinion on the plan without knowing the details of the rate plan. The request for information disclosure of SKT’s rate plan report by the Participating Solidarity was filed on the day the report was received (29th), but will be processed on January 13th, the 15th day of the review period under the reservation system.

Even if the report is disclosed, it is not possible to request the return of the rate plan after the review period has passed, but it is still possible to evaluate the plan only after confirming the content of the rate plan. When the results come out, I will share them again.

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