3 mobile carriers apply for 5G spectrum auction

SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's three mobile carriers on Monday applied for the country's first auction for high-end fifth-generation network frequencies, the ICT ministry said.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said the three companies -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Inc. -- submitted their application documents for the auction, which is scheduled to take place on June 15.

The ministry said it will review the documents and announce on Friday whether they are fit to participate in the auction. Industry insiders expect all the three firms to pass the evaluation process.

Ministry officials said the allocation of the new frequencies could expedite the commercialization of 5G technology, currently slated to start next March.

The mobile carriers are setting their eyes on the 3.5 GHz wavelength, which can provide better service at longer distances. This allows fewer relay stations to be built when setting up a nationwide network.

The 28 GHz spectrum, on the other hand, is capable of transmitting high-capacity data at a faster speed, but mobile carriers need to establish more signal stations due to its shorter reach. It is expected to be utilized for business-to-business solutions.

(END)