Korea mandates switch to 5G standalone, warns carriers of measures (biz.chosun.com)

South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT has mandated a transition to 5G standalone (SA) mode by 2026 for domestic telecom carriers, moving away from the non-standalone (NSA) architecture that combines 5G and LTE frequencies. This significant shift aims to enhance communication quality in an AI-driven landscape, where low-latency and high-speed connectivity are crucial. While speed reductions during the transition are anticipated, the ministry is encouraging operators to invest in additional base stations and adjust cell plans to maintain service quality. Incentives include reduced reallocation fees for carriers building over 20,000 indoor 5G base stations, which could bring the fee down to approximately 2.9 trillion won. This policy highlights the diminishing role of LTE frequencies as 5G technology evolves and lays the groundwork for future 6G commercialization. The ministry is also exploring strategies to optimize frequency allocation, including a three-year limit on specific frequency bands, ensuring they can be repurposed for upcoming next-gen networks. As the transition unfolds, the ministry plans to discuss institutional improvements to prevent misuse of discretion in the frequency allocation process, though details on the discontinuation of 3G services remain unspecified.