LTE Service Quality Drops Following 5G Launch
After the launch of 5G services earlier this month, KT customers voiced complaints about 4G services on many internet websites. They claimed that KT’s LTE speed has dropped sharply since the launch of 5G services.
Such complaints began to arise following the launch of 5G services. Netizens all pointed to a sharp decline in KT’s LTE speed. They complained about LTE disconnections inside commuting subway trains and a plunge in LTE speed at home.
The phenomenon happened to various models of smartphones. Customers using smartphones from LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Apple, and even Xiaomi all complained about a drop in LTE speed. They also posted the speeds of KT's LTE services measured by an internet speed measurement application. "Did KT reduce the number of 4G transponders while preparing to start 5G services?" some of them wondered. “This kind of thing occurred when mobile carriers switched to 4G from 3G.”
Officials of mobile carriers say that they never scaled down their LTE networks while starting 5G services. However, an official said, "With the launch of 5G services, a 4G-5G interference phenomenon may occur in the early stage. Data service speed varies from region to region because interference varies depending on base stations in regions."
In the meantime, as complaints arise about 5G service quality, LG Electronics is reportedly considering putting off the launch of its first 5G smartphone V50 ThinQ from April 19 to April 26. Early 5G users are complaining about service disconnections during switches between 5G and LTE even in the Seoul metropolitan area.