Minister of Science and Technology Information and Communication Choi Ki-young attends the’Interview Reporter Video Conference’ held in the press room of the Ministry of Science and ICT at the Sejong Finance Center in Sejong Special Self-Governing City on the afternoon of the 22nd and gives a greeting. [사진=과기정통부 제공]
The Ministry of Science, ICT and ICT will initiate a working-level discussion to derive a plan for joint use of the 28 ㎓ frequency band to be used for 5G with three mobile communication companies.
Minister of Science and Technology Choi Ki-young said at a press conference held at the Sejong Government Complex on the afternoon of the 22nd, “the 28㎓ band is still a usable frequency” and “plans to discuss a plan to utilize 28㎓ with (three mobile communication companies).”
Heo Seong-wook, head of the network policy department of the Ministry of Science and ICT, also met with reporters after the press conference on this day and said, “As if the Ministry of Science and ICT and the three mobile telecommunications companies are operating related TFs to discuss how to share 5G base stations between the three mobile telecommunications companies in the rural area, the 28 ㎓ band utilization plan “We will also start a joint discussion with the three mobile operators.”
Heo said, “I will meet with the three mobile operators soon to hear their opinions,” he said. “Based on this, we will decide the future policy direction (such as TF preparation).”
The high frequency of the 28㎓ band has strong straightness and a high speed, but its reach is short and its diffraction is so weak that it is difficult to pass through walls. For this reason, the Ministry of Science and ICT also turned to the position to use the 28GHz frequency as a B2B-only network instead of a national network for general users.
At the time of the 5G frequency auction held in 2018, the three mobile carriers promised to build 15,000 base stations for each company by this year under the condition of receiving 28 GHz band allocation. However, as of January, only 45 28GHz base stations were installed nationwide. The three mobile operators are having difficulty not only in achieving the installation goal within this year, but also in preparing a plan for B2B exclusive use.
In addition, the Ministry of Science and ICT is reviewing the possibility of using specialized networks for mid-band frequencies below 6 GHz. The Ministry of Science and ICT has announced that in the case of 5G-specific networks, it will provide priority in the 28.9-29.5 ㎓ band adjacent to the existing mobile carrier’s 28 ㎓ band.
Minister Choi said, “Some companies have begun experimenting with the operation of specialized networks for mid-band frequencies below 6 ㎓,” and “Therefore, the Ministry of Science and ICT will also examine and prepare whether or not the band can be operated as a specialized network.” Replied.
The Ministry of Science and ICT also announced a policy to improve user convenience by consulting with mobile communication operators to launch a data plan between 9GB and 200GB in relation to the 5G mid-to-low price plan. 2nd Vice Minister of Science and Technology Jang Seok-young said, “There is a lot of user demand for the section fare system, and the 3 mobile phone companies are also considering launching a new fare system for that section,” he said.
©’Five-language global economic newspaper’ Ajou Economy. Prohibition of unauthorized reproduction and redistribution