South Korea Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 26 Nov 2024 Update History

Report Status: Current

Report Pages: 168

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

South Korea drives up its 6G adoption plans for 2030

South Korea is second only to Hong Kong in the world rankings of telecom market maturity. The country has a competitive and stable market, with strong central government support that helps drive the rollout of advanced infrastructure in both the fixed and mobile arenas. South Korea is also on the leading edge of the latest telecom technology developments, including around 6G. And it is host to two of the world’s top equipment manufacturers in the form of Samsung and LG.

With its highly urbanised, tech-savvy population, South Korea also enjoys very high penetration levels across all segments – fixed-line telephony (41.5% at the end of 2024), fixed broadband (47.5%), mobile voice and data (175%), and mobile broadband (125%). The performance of the mobile sector is on a par with other developed markets in the region, but it is the wireline segment that allows South Korea to stand out from the crowd. This is partly a reflection of the large proportion of its population (around 60%) who live in apartment buildings, making fibre and apartment LAN connections relatively easy and cost-effective to deploy. The government’s Ultra Broadband Convergence Network (UBcN) is a significant initiative, enabling fibre-based broadband connections nationwide and promoting infrastructure sharing between telcos, thus reducing deployments costs.

Fixed-line teledensity is also at a very high level compared to most of the rest of the world, though the number of traditional copper connections has fallen steadily. More than half of fixed connections are now internet-based. The fall in traditional telephony forced the incumbent telco KT Corp to diversify into other telecom segments (including investments in 5G and the development of 6G) as well as non-telecom sectors (such as autonomous vehicles and AI) in an effort to transform itself into a digital platform company.

On the mobile front, users have enthusiastically migrated from one generation of mobile platform to the next as each iteration becomes available. There is no lack of demand for 5G in South Korea (with about 62% of all mobile subscribers being on 5G networks as of September 2024). Part of the reason behind the rapid transition may be the subsidised handsets on offer from the MNOs and the MVNOs – a practice that has become so widespread and cutthroat that the regulator has regularly stepped in and fined the operators billions of won for breaching the subsidy level. In October 2024 the Fair Trade Commission decided to impose fines on the three telcos, accusing them of collusion when determining sales incentives paid to mobile phone retailers.

Key Developments

MSIT planning to quadruple backbone network transmission speed by 2030 and increase submarine cable capacity to 260Tb/s.
Stage X wins 800MHz of spectrum in the 28GHz range but has its licence revoked.
5G adoption reaches 62% of all mobile subscribers.
KT joins the consortium to build the ALPHA cable connecting South Korea to several other Asian nations.
Report update includes regulator market data to September 2024, operator data to Q3 2024, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Key companies mentioned in this report:

KT Corp, SK Telecom, LG U+, SK Broadband, Stage X

Key statistics
Regional Asia market comparison

Market characteristics
Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
TMI vs GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview
Telecommunications market
Regulatory environment

Regulatory authority

Korea Communications Commission (KCC)

Mobile network developments

Subsidies
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Spectrum

Mobile market

Mobile statistics
Mobile infrastructure

6G
5G
4G/LTE
3G
CDMA
Mobile voice
Mobile broadband

Major mobile operators

SK Telecom
KT Corp
LG U+
MVNOs

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed-line broadband technologies

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Apartment LAN
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
Other fixed broadband services

Fixed broadband operators

KT Corp
LG U+
SK Broadband

Fixed network operators

KT Corp
LG U+

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
National telecom network

National submarine cable infrastructure

International infrastructure

International submarine cable infrastructure
Korea Internet eXchange (KIX)

Smart infrastructure

IoT
Smart grid
Smart cities
Driverless Cars

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – South Korea – 2024 (e)
Table 2 – Development of ICT revenue by type (million won) – 2018 – 2022
Table 3 – Development of telecom market revenue by type (trillion won) – 2014 – 2024
Table 4 – Change in the number of mobile number portings – 2012 – 2024
Table 5 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 6 – Change in the number of mobile connections by platform (million) – 2012 – 2024
Table 7 – Change in the number of mobile phones by type – 2018 – 2024
Table 8 – Growth in the number of 5G subscribers by operator – 2019 – 2024
Table 9 – Increase in the number of SK Telecom’s 5G subscribers – 2019 – 2024
Table 10 – Change in the number of LTE subscribers by operator (million) – 2016 – 2024
Table 11 – Change in the number of 3G subscribers by operator (million) – 2017 – 2024
Table 12 – Change in the number of 2G subscribers by operator – 2017 – 2023
Table 13 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 14 – Mobile broadband subscribers by operator (million) – 2017 – 2022
Table 15 – Change in mobile data traffic by platform (TB) – 2015 – 2024
Table 16 – Change in average mobile data traffic by platform per subscriber (MB) – 2018 – 2024
Table 17 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers by operator (million) – 2012 – 2024
Table 18 – Change in mobile market share by operator – 2012 – 2024
Table 19 – Development of mobile service ARPU per month by operator (KRW/month/subscribers) – 2012 – 2024
Table 20 – Change in the number of SK Telecom’s mobile subscribers by platform (million) – 2012 – 2024
Table 21 – Development of SK Telecom’s mobile service revenue – 2012 – 2024
Table 22 – Development of KT Corp’s mobile subscribers by platform (million) – 2012 – 2024
Table 23 – Change in the number of KT Corp’s own and MVNO mobile subscribers (million) – 2018 – 2024
Table 24 – Development of KT Corp’s mobile service revenue (KRW billion) – 2012 – 2024
Table 25 – Change in the number of LG U+ mobile subscribers (million) – 2012 – 2024
Table 26 – Change in the number of MVNO subscribers by operator (million) – 2012 – 2024
Table 27 – Change in the number of MVNO subscribers by technology – 2017 – 2024
Table 28 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 29 – Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by platform (million) – 2012 – 2024
Table 30 – Change in the number of DSL broadband subscribers by operator – 2018 – 2024
Table 31 – Change in the number of LAN broadband subscribers by operator – 2018 – 2024
Table 32 – Change in the number of fibre broadband subscribers by operator – 2018 – 2024
Table 33 – Change in the number of cable broadband subscribers by operator – 2018 – 2024
Table 34 – Change in the market share of fixed broadband subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2024
Table 35 – Increase in the number of KT‘s broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Table 36 – Change in the number of LG U+‘s broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Table 37 – Change in the number of SK Broadband’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2015 – 2024
Table 38 – Decline in the number of KT Corp’s fixed voice lines – 2012 – 2024
Table 39 – Development of KT Corp’s financial data (KRW billion) – 2012 – 2024
Table 40 – Change in the number of LG U+’s fixed-line subscribers (thousand) – 2012 – 2024
Table 41 – Development of LG U+’s financial data (KRW billion) – 2012 – 2024
Table 42 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Table 43 – Change in the number of fixed-wired and VoIP lines (million) – 2016 – 2023
Table 44 – Increase in international internet bandwidth capacity – 2013 – 2023
Table 45 – Historic - Mobile subscribers – 1996 – 2011
Table 46 – Historic - CDMA mobile subscribers by operator (million) – 2002 – 2011
Table 47 – Historic - mobile market share by operator – 2002 – 2011
Table 48 – Historic - Mobile subscribers by operator (million) – 2002 – 2011
Table 49 – Historic - Mobile Service ARPU per month by operator (KRW / month) – 2002 – 2011
Table 50 – Historic - KT Corp’s mobile subscribers by type (million) – 2004 – 2011
Table 51 – Historic - SK Telecom mobile subscribers by type (million) – 2002 – 2011
Table 52 – Historic - LG U+ mobile subscribers – 2003 – 2011
Table 53 – Historic - Fixed broadband subscriber growth and penetration rate – 1999 – 2011
Table 54 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and penetration – 1991 – 2011
Table 55 – Historic - South Korea VoIP subscribers – 2006 – 2011
Table 56 – Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers by platform (million) – 1998 – 2011
Table 57 – Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers by operator (million) – 2005 – 2011
Table 58 – Historic - Broadband market share by operator – 2005 – 2011
Table 59 – Historic - LG U+ broadband subscribers – 2004 – 2011
Table 60 – Historic - KT Corp - Fixed Voice - PSTN and VoIP lines subscribers – 1991 – 2011
Table 61 – Historic - KT Corp PSTN lines – 2003 – 2011
Table 62 – Historic - KT Corp VoIP subscribers – 2008 – 2011
Table 63 – Historic - LG U+ fixed-line (PSTN and VoIP) subscribers – 2005 – 2011
Table 64 – Historic - International bandwidth – 1997 – 2011

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Asia Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 2 – Asia Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 3 – Asia Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 4 – Asia – Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 – Asia – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 – Northern Asia – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 – Northern Asia – Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 – Development of telecom market revenue by type – 2014 – 2024
Chart 9 – Change in the number of mobile number portings – 2012 – 2024
Chart 10 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 11 – Change in the number of mobile connections by platform – 2012 – 2024
Chart 12 – Change in the number of mobile phones by type – 2018 – 2024
Chart 13 – Growth in the number of 5G subscribers by operator – 2019 – 2024
Chart 14 – Increase in the number of SK Telecom’s 5G subscribers – 2019 – 2024
Chart 15 – Change in the number of LTE subscribers by operator – 2016 – 2024
Chart 16 – Change in the number of 3G subscribers by operator – 2017 – 2024
Chart 17 – Change in the number of 2G subscribers by operator – 2017 – 2023
Chart 18 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 19 – Mobile broadband subscribers by operator – 2017 – 2022
Chart 20 – Change in mobile data traffic by platform – 2015 – 2024
Chart 21 – Change in average mobile data traffic by platform per subscriber (MB) – 2018 – 2024
Chart 22 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2024
Chart 23 – Change in mobile market share by operator – 2012 – 2024
Chart 24 – Development of mobile service ARPU per month by operator – 2016 – 2024
Chart 25 – Change in the number of SK Telecom’s mobile subscribers by platform – 2012 – 2024
Chart 26 – Development of SK Telecom’s mobile service revenue – 2012 – 2024
Chart 27 – Development of KT Corp’s mobile subscribers by platform – 2012 – 2024
Chart 28 – Change in the number of KT Corp’s own and MVNO mobile subscribers – 2018 – 2024
Chart 29 – Development of KT Corp’s mobile service revenue – 2012 – 2024
Chart 30 – Change in the number of LG U+ mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Chart 31 – Change in the number of MVNO subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2024
Chart 32 – Change in the number of MVNO subscribers by technology – 2017 – 2024
Chart 33 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 34 – Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by platform – 2012 – 2024
Chart 35 – Change in the number of DSL broadband subscribers by operator – 2018 – 2024
Chart 36 – Change in the number of LAN broadband subscribers by operator – 2018 – 2024
Chart 37 – Change in the number of fibre broadband subscribers by operator – 2018 – 2024
Chart 38 – Change in the number of cable broadband subscribers by operator – 2018 – 2024
Chart 39 – Change in the market share of broadband subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2024
Chart 40 – Increase in the number of KT‘s broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Chart 41 – Change in the number of LG U+‘s broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Chart 42 – Change in the number of SK Broadband’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2015 – 2024
Chart 43 – Decline in the number of KT Corp’s fixed voice lines – 2012 – 2024
Chart 44 – Development of KT Corp’s financial data – 2012 – 2024
Chart 45 – Change in the number of LG U+’s fixed-line subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Chart 46 – Development of LG U+’s financial data – 2012 – 2024
Chart 47 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Chart 48 – Change in the number of fixed-wired and VoIP lines – 2016 – 2024

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Asia
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – Asia – Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 – Asia – Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 – Asia – Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 – Map of South Korea
Exhibit 7 – Significant telcos in South Korea and their offers
Exhibit 8 – 5G spectrum auction results – July 2018
Exhibit 9 – Comparison of WiBro and mobile technologies in South Korea
Exhibit 10 – National submarine fibre cables overview in South Korea
Exhibit 11 – International submarine fibre optic cables overview in South Korea
Exhibit 12 – Interconnection status by IX

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South Korea Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

South Korea drives up its 6G adoption plans for 2030

Key Developments

Key companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Asia market comparison

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views