The Ministry of Science and ICT of South Korea is planning to finalize its 5G frequency allocation plan late this year or early next year and conduct a 5G frequency auction based on it between June and October next year. The plan is to allocate 3.5 GHz and 28 GHz bands, which are 5G frequency candidates.
The ministry runs two task forces in this context. One of the two is to work on a new cost calculation method in view of propagation coefficients and sales calculation suitable for the 5G frequencies. Then, the other task force fixes the details of the auction such as technical standards.
“South Korean mobile carriers are currently expressing their strong will to put 5G to commercial use for the first time worldwide,” the ministry explained, adding, “Under the circumstances, the government is planning to conduct the auction next year so that the world’s first 5G ecosystem can be created in South Korea.”
Some in the industry point out that the auction in 2018 is too early in view of the pace of global standardization. They mention the case of the wireless broadband technology, which failed by not complying with international standards. The others, however, are saying that things will be different this time as a number of countries including the United States and Japan are planning to use 28 GHz as a 5G band.