Page 104 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Korea to Offer 5G Frequencies to Non-Telcos

South Korea will offer additional frequency bands for further 5G
deployment and non-telecom companies are eligible to join the
bid, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced recently. The
wireless spectrums to be provided are a 600 MHz block of a 28
Gigahertz frequency band and another 100MHz block of 4.7GHz.
According to the Ministry plan, the government will divide the
28GHz band into 12 blocks, and the 4.7GHz band into 10 blocks
for the frequency rollout and companies or institutions seeking
to acquire the frequencies can decide on the number of blocks
they want. Interested organizations should apply for purchase by
October. The allotment will be provided for use of up to five years,
and will be announced as early as November. “The supply of the services are mostly operated by using the 3.5GHz band, through
5G frequencies for special networks will expand the use of the which the maximum download speed falls just short of being 20
5G network into various industries, creating new added values times faster than 4G Long Term Evolution, a figure promised by
through convergence and innovation among different industries,” the telcos. SKT, KT and LG Uplus unveiled their plans to use the
a ministry official said. By special networks, the government additional frequency blocks during a meeting with ICT Minister
refers to the 5G deployment by non-telecom companies, such as Lim Hye-soon. SKT announced it plans to establish 28GHz-based
Samsung Electronics for the establishment of a smart factory. For 5G networks at Coex and Jamsil Baseball Stadium in southern
its first rollout of 5G frequencies in 2018, the government held an Seoul and at Jeju World Cup Stadium. The company’s goal for
auction, with only the three mobile carriers SKT, KT and LG Uplus its 28GHz service is to have more people actually experience the
allowed to be eligible bidders. This time around, other than the fact network quality in public places like the chosen venues. SKT plans
that non-telcos can join, the pricing will be different. The prices of to enable virtual reality conferences, real-time high-definition
the frequency blocks will be set by the government, in accordance streaming and the operation of autonomous driving robots at the
with coverage areas of network services, sizes of populations and places. For Coex, the largest convention center in southern Seoul,
conditions of network equipment and other surroundings, the SKT plans to make the 28GHz service available by July. KT said
Ministry said. The standard price for a 10MHz block of 4.7GHz it has completed the deployment of a 28GHz wireless network at
is set at 100,000 won, while a 50MHz block of 28GHz is priced Suwon Wiz Park in Gyeonggi Province earlier this month and will
at 50,000 won. The Ministry said the unit price of 28GHz is set test-offer 10 different services, including hologram, metaverse/
to a tenth of the 4.7GHz price, considering the characteristics cloud games, VR, 5G UHD streaming and AI robots. It will also
of the high-frequency band, network equipment and devices. provide 28GHz-based WiFi service at Mokdong Chamber Hall in
The Ministry also decided to cut the three-month examination western Seoul in September. LG Uplus has picked historical sites,
of companies’ frequency usage plans to one month. The Korean including Buyeo and Gongju in Chungcheong Province, to provide
ICT Ministry has come up with the additional 5G frequency augmented reality and high-speed content services on history
supply plan amid continuing complaints about the poorer-than- and culture. The company will also establish 28GHz networks at
expected quality of the nationwide 5G network services. Despite Gwangju Champions Field Baseball Stadium and Bexco in Busan
their efforts to make Korea the world’s first 5G-enabled country, next month to provide high-speed streaming services and 28GHz
network operators have been the target of public criticism over WiFi. LG will deploy the special 5G networks at three golf courses,
slower-than-expected network speeds and expensive mobile bills including Rainbow Hills in Eumseong, North Chungcheong
after the launch of 5G network in April 2019. Korea’s nationwide 5G Province, to livestream KLPGA tournaments.

Ligado Secures 3GPP Approval for L-Band 5G Specifications

Ligado Networks has confirmed that it L-Band vendor ecosystem and its efforts CommsUpdate, Ligado – which emerged
has received approvals from 3GPP – the to deploy new mid-band spectrum in 5G from ill-fated open-access 4G start-up
wireless industry’s global standard- networks in the US.’ Ligado is currently LightSquared in February 2016 – was
setting body – for new technical developing a 5G Mobile Private Network belatedly given the go-ahead by the
specifications that will enable its L-band Solution designed to serve the energy, Federal Communications Commission
spectrum to be deployed in 5G networks. manufacturing, health care, transportation (FCC) to utilise its L-band spectrum for 5G
The telco says that the approvals ‘mark a and other critical infrastructure sectors. in April 2020.
crucial step in Ligado’s expansion of the As previously reported by TeleGeography’s

104 JUN-AUG 2021