◀ Anchor ▶
5G has complained that it is difficult to feel the difference from LTE and only charges are expensive.
The good news is that carriers are offering cheaper plans.
First of all, SK Telecom planned a 30,000 won rate plan, which was 20,000 won lower than the existing rate, and reported it to the government.
However, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Communication, which is the main ministry, could not immediately approve it and fell into trouble.
For what reason?
Reporter Jeong Jin-wook reports.
◀ Report ▶
This is a new rate plan that SK Telecom reported to the government at the end of last month.
Instead of removing the terminal contract discount, the rate was reduced from 55,000 won per month to 38,000 won, and from 75,000 won to 53,000 won by 20,000 won.
After seeing this, KT and LG Uplus also announced that they would immediately release a low-cost plan of 40,000 won.
Politics and others who have been demanding a reduction in telecom rates in order to share the pain of coronavirus have expressed their welcome, but an unexpected problem arose.
Affordable phone operators whose low rates are a weapon have been hit hard.
In fact, when I analyzed it under the same conditions of giving 9GB data, it was found that SKT’s new plan was 1,000 won cheaper than a budget phone.
Affordable Phones are doing business by lending a telecommunication network of mobile carriers, so when they receive subscribers, they are giving money in the name of network rental fees to the carriers, and they are asking for a reduction in this money they receive if they think they will pay.
[허창식/알뜰통신사업자협회 국장]
“In our view, we are very conscious of the crisis and we are concerned about the exit from the market.”
The Ministry of Science and Technology fell into trouble.
It’s nice to see the rate cuts of mobile carriers, but it’s because we can’t help but consider the survival of affordable phone operators.
It’s strange to accept SKT’s new rate plan, which took the risk of reducing profits and lowered the rate, and it is not easy to ask carriers to reduce the money they receive from affordable phones.
In this regard, while SK Telecom said, “It is inappropriate to discuss the issue of low-priced phones in the situation where the new rate plan has not been approved,” the Ministry of Science and Technology plans to finalize whether to approve SKT’s mid- to low-priced rates by next Wednesday. .
This is Jung Jin-wook, MBC News.
(Video editing: Civilization)
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