The Ministry of Science and ICT held a meeting on September 30 to gather feedback from the budget mobile phone industry for its continued growth.
This meeting is a follow-up to the 'Budget Mobile Phone Activation Plan' announced during the July Economic Ministers' Meeting and the Special Task Force on Living Costs.
Led by Choi Woo-hyuk, Director of the Information Protection and Network Policy Bureau, the meeting included representatives from ten budget mobile phone companies, including Kookmin Bank, Smatel, and STIEG5, to discuss on-the-ground opinions and challenges.
The ministry shared detailed follow-up implementation plans and future schedules with the industry. It explained amendments to the Telecommunications Business Act and policy financing support measures aimed at facilitating market entry and growth for budget mobile phone operators with their own infrastructure (partial and full MVNOs).
To reduce the cost burden on small and medium-sized budget mobile phone operators and enable price reductions, the ministry introduced plans to expand reductions in radio usage fees and apply differential reductions for operators violating regulations through amendments to the Radio Act.
To enhance customer service satisfaction and trust among budget mobile phone users, the ministry proposed raising standards for customer service personnel and strengthening user protection measures in the event of operator closures or bankruptcies.
The Ministry of Science and ICT urged the budget mobile phone industry to actively invest in infrastructure and services, innovate, and enhance customer service and user protection.
Choi emphasized, "This activation plan for budget mobile phones is a starting point to reduce operators' cost burdens and expand service differentiation and innovation, improving the overall market. The government will ensure that follow-up measures are implemented without delay and will continue to communicate with the industry to faithfully reflect on-the-ground opinions in policies and systems, enabling tangible changes in the budget mobile phone market."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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