To Ensure Consumers’ Rights to Choose

The Ministry of Science and ICT is pressing Samsung Electronics to release an LTE version of the Galaxy Note 10 together with the 5G version in the Korean market.

The Ministry of Science and ICT of South Korea sent letters to local mobile carriers, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics on Aug. 25, asking them to ensure consumers’ rights to choose and submit plans and proposals concerning the matter.

The request has to do with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10. Samsung Electronics is planning to release the 5G version of the phone without releasing the LTE version in South Korea whereas both versions are scheduled to be released in the United States and China. The letter is to persuade Samsung Electronics to launch both in the South Korean market as well and dissuade the manufacturers from causing discrimination between local and foreign markets with regard to their smartphones to be launched down the road.

The letter to three local mobile carriers, in the meantime, is for LTE calling plan application to 5G smartphone users. At present, the application entails no technical problem at all. The mobile carriers’ 5G networks in South Korea are non-stand-alone networks using LTE networks together and 5G smartphones currently available in the local market support LTE communications as well. 5G smartphone users in the market can use their phones on an LTE basis by turning off the 5G communications function. However, the actual application entails some cumbersome processes such as new calling plan preparation.

Copyright © BusinessKorea. Prohibited from unauthorized reproduction and redistribution