South Korea will sell off spectrum in the 700 MHz band to mobile operators later this year, according to local press reports at the weekend.
The country’s regulator will finalise auction details in the first half of 2015 and carry out the process in the second half, the Korea Times reported on Sunday, citing Choi Sung-joon, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC).
The KCC needs to prepare what Choi described as "an exit strategy", due to escalating tension between mobile operators and terrestrial TV broadcasters regarding the spectrum.
The paper explained that Korea’s main broadcasters are lobbying the government f or exclusive rights to the 700 MHz band. The mobile operators naturally disagree with any such move.
The country’s three main mobile operators, SK Telecom, KT and LG U+, said they are ready for the auction, the paper said.
KT warned that the process would likely bring with it greater financial pressure for the telcos.
However, a spokesperson for the company said it has no choice but to take part, since it needs more spectrum as its prepares for 5G mobile services.
Speaking at Mobile World Congress last week, KT chief executive Chang-Gyu Hwang talked up the country’s plans to roll out 5G networks – albeit pre-commercial – in time for the 2018 winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
"It’s so close. You only need to wait a few years," he said.
