By Kim Bo-eun
Korea's three major telecom firms offered higher 5G speed and greater coverage this year, according to a biannual government inspection unveiled Tuesday.
This year's assessment comes at a particularly sensitive time, following consumer complaints of sub-par internet speed offered by telecom firms.
Around 500 consumers have already launched a class action against the telecom firms for slow 5G speed, while around 1,500 more are in are also gearing up to sue the firms. The mobile carriers are accused of exaggerating internet speed when infrastructure for the service was not fully set up.
The Ministry of Science and ICT conducts the inspection twice a year at the end of each half. The government evaluation is a sensitive matter for the telecom firms, that continue to compete for subscribers and higher internet speeds.
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According to the ministry's inspection, SK Telecom (SKT), KT and LG Uplus offered an average of 808.45 megabits per second in 5G download speed, which is up by 117.98 megabits per second compared to the latter half of 2020.
SKT led the telecom companies in 5G speed with 923.2 megabits per second, followed by KT with 782.21 megabits per second and LG Uplus with 719.94 megabits per second. All of the three firms showed enhanced 5G speed compared to a year earlier.
Coverage of 5G services in 85 cities nationwide increased to an average area of 6,271.12 square kilometers, up 16 percent from a year earlier. Lack of 5G coverage in provincial areas had been an issue, as the necessary infrastructure had been concentrated in metropolitan areas.
LG's telecom unit outranked its two rivals with an area of 6,805.25 square kilometers, followed by KT with 6,333.33 square kilometers and SKT with 5,674.79 square kilometers.
The coverage of 5G services at major facilities such as department stores, libraries and airports also grew to an average of 3,707, up 33 percent from a year earlier.
KT led indoor 5G coverage, offering the service at 4,205 facilities, followed by SKT with 3,923 and LG Uplus with 2,992. The inspection showed 96 percent of the area of the venues offered 5G services, which is up from 90.99 percent of the latter half of last year.
As for coverage for transportation infrastructure, the three telecom firms offered 5G services at 835 out of a total of 1,028 subway stations. The service was also available at an average of 53 out of 54 high-speed KTX and SRT train stations. The three companies offered 5G services in an average of 94 sections of 141 sections of major highways nationwide.
"Coverage and quality of 5G services has shown rapid improvement, but in order for further enhancement to be experienced by users of 5G services, the three telecom companies need to make greater investments in networks and the expansion of applied 5G services are necessary," the ministry stated.
The controversy surrounding the telecom companies' subpar internet speed grew following a YouTuber's expose in April, prompting the government to initiate an inspection into their internet speed.
Tests showed local 5G services do not provide speeds that are purportedly 20 times faster than the previous-generation LTE services. This is attributed to telecom operators not having carried out their investment pledges for the necessary infrastructure.
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