South Korea boasts one of the most sophisticated telecommunications infrastructures in the world, cultivating an insatiable demand for high-speed mobile broadband among its citizens. Mobile broadband penetration in South Korea is above 99% and fibre has been widely deployed. South Korea is a three-operator market featuring SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus.
South Korea estimated tower ownership – Q4 2024
The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) has tried multiple times over the years to license a fourth MNO, however, failed again in February 2017 as none of the three applicants (Sejong Telecom, K Mobile, and Quantum Mobile) met the criteria.
According to data published by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) there are a total of 30 million 5G subscription in South Korea, translating to just over 43.5% of all mobile accesses in the country. Each of the three MNOs are said to have installed between 60,000 and 70,000 5G base stations over the past two and a half years, resulting in a total count of 200,000 across the country.
South Korea - telecom market statistics Q4 2024
South Korea’s three mobile network operators will allow shared access to their respective 5G networks in remote coastal and farm towns. TowerXchange is starting to pick up the first faint signals that towerco activity may be emerging in South Korea.
