South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) has confirmed that, just over two months after all three of the country’s mobile network operators (MNOs) began offering 5G technology on a commercial basis, the number of customers signed up to the next generation service has now topped one million. The total marks a significant increase from the ministry’s last monthly breakdown, which confirmed that as at end-April 2019 KT Corp was serving 104,696 5G subscribers, with SK Telecom and LG Uplus having signed up 95,265 and 71,725, respectively.
Meanwhile, in its latest press release regarding the state of 5G in the country, the MSIT also noted that, while the number of 5G base stations countrywide had increased to 61,246, coverage for 5G connectivity remained restricted to the nation’s large cities and other locations with a high population density. Looking ahead, the ministry also said that MNOs are expected to begin installing signal relay nodes at airports, train stations, major shopping centres and exhibition halls starting next week.