The government intends to commercialize fifth generation mobile telecommunication technology (5G) for the first time in the world by 2020 and it will invest KRW 1.6 trillion into the technology over the next seven years. The next generation standard is, in theory, one thousand times faster than the current fourth-generation technology (4G), which is also known as long-term evolution (LTE) technology.

The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) announced its mobile communications development strategy containing these plans on January 22. With the vision of becoming a 5G mobile telecommunication leader, the government plans to quickly commercialize 5G technology, cooperate internationally on standardizing 5G technology, support research and development and create a technological ecosystem for developing 5G technology.

The speed of transmission for 5G is as fast as 1 Gbps and it would only take 1 second to download a movie of 800 megabytes. It is much faster compared to the current state-of-the-art LTE-Advanced technology, which takes 40 seconds to download a movie. When 5G technology becomes real, people will live in a truly fully-connected society in which they are online with various devices and equipment at all times, everywhere they go, receiving a constant streamline of information. Super-multiview displays and hologram services will also become available through such mobile communication technology.

The 5G technology is being developed around the world as one of the core elements of a creative economy’s physical infrastructure. In 2013, the ministry formed the 5G Forum together with mobile telecommunication carriers, manufacturers and small- and medium-sized enterprises. The ministry has also established development strategies for the future of mobile telecommunications, along with industry and academic professionals.


The ministry intends to develop and commercialize five core 5G services: future social network services, mobile 3D imaging, artificial intelligence, high-speed services, and ultra high-definition resolution and holograms. It plans to show off these technologies during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.

The government intends to exchange technologies with the United States, Europe and China in order to develop a 5G standard. It also plans to secure global frequencies and carry out research in finding new 5G bandwidths beyond the 6GHz spectrum.

“The 5G mobile telecommunications is a core infrastructure through which knowledge and information can be traded. It will create a ripple effect in the economy, helping to develop related content, platforms and devices,” said Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning Choi Mun-kee. “The public and private sectors will together develop and commercialize the necessary technologies.”


By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr