Starting next month, users who are on unnecessarily high mobile phone plans compared to their actual usage will be notified by their telecom providers.
Beginning October 1, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus will implement a guideline for notifying users about optimal plans, including the criteria, methods, and content of the notifications.
The revised law, announced on March 31, mandates that telecommunications companies analyze users' communication fees, usage conditions, and behaviors to inform them of the most suitable plans.
Telecom companies will assess subscribers' voice calls, text messages, and data usage over the past six months to determine appropriate plans. Generally, they will look for options that are less expensive than the current plan while still accommodating the user's usage. If no suitable lower-tier plan is available, the current plan may be presented as the optimal option.
The notifications will include information on the current and recommended plans, such as usage fees, conditions, recent usage statistics, and expected fees, penalties, and changes in family plan discounts if the user switches plans.
However, the 'optimal plan' suggested by the telecom companies does not necessarily mean it is the cheapest option available among all mobile plans in the country. It primarily refers to the most suitable plan offered by the user's current provider.
For users interested in comparing plans from other providers, including budget options, they can utilize the 'Smart Choice' portal operated by the Korea Telecommunications Operators Association. This platform allows users to compare plans from the three major telecom companies and budget carriers based on data usage, pricing, age, and various benefits.
Not all subscribers will receive the notification text simultaneously on October 1. The administrative notice stipulates that the notification frequency will be determined based on the timing of the service contract, meaning the actual notification time may vary for each subscriber.
The Ministry of Science and ICT aims to support users in selecting reasonable plans and alleviate the burden of communication costs through the optimal plan notification system.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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