North Korea is reportedly now taking on subscribers for a new 4G network in Pyonyang, although take-up has been slow due to limited coverage.
According to a report in Daily NK, citing an anonymous source, North Korea started 4G services sometime in December. The report said that North Korean authorities are using the 4G network’s speed and signal strength as a selling point, particularly for underground coverage.
However, according to the source, 4G service is only available in the central districts of Pyongyang so far. The source also claims that while the service works with domestically produced smartphones, the phones do not automatically drop down to 3G when the user moves out of range of the 4G signal.
Consequently, the report said, most people are waiting for 4G coverage to improve before they subscribe to the service.
The source didn’t specify which operator is offering 4G. TeleGeography says that there are two 3G mobile network operators active in North Korea – Koryolink and Kang Song NET.
According to the report, the Cabinet and the Non-permanent Economic Development Committee are pushing the 4G project, with the Information Technology Bureau providing technological guidance. Meanwhile, “provincial, city and county post offices and mobile communication centers organize the implementation of the project, with local people’s committees lending help as well.”
The source claims the government wants 80% of planned cell sites to be deployed by 2025.
Daily NK reported in October last year that North Korea had begun importing used Huawei telecoms gear from China to upgrade its 3G network equipment and also launch 4G. A month later, the term “4G” was reportedly spotted in a smartphone ad in a video on North Korean propaganda website “Chosun Today”.