SK Telecom halts new 3G sign-ups in South Korea

TL;DR

• SK Telecom stopped accepting new 3G subscribers in South Korea, starting the process of closing its 3G network after 23 years of operation.
• SK Telecom has not set a final shutdown date and said closure will depend on customer migration progress and government approval.
• Korea JoongAng Daily reported SK Telecom had just under 135,000 3G customers in June and aims to complete the shutdown by the end of 2027.

SK Telecom stopped accepting new 3G subscribers in South Korea, beginning the sunset process for a network it has operated for 23 years. The operator said it is preparing customers to move to 4G and 5G services as 3G subscriber numbers and traffic decline and as 3G equipment and devices age.

SK Telecom said it has not set a final 3G shutdown date. The operator said the timing will depend on how quickly customers transition off the network, and it added that a full closure requires government permission. Korea JoongAng Daily reported SK Telecom had just under 135,000 3G customers in June and hopes to complete the closure by the end of 2027.

SK Telecom said it will offer phone replacement support and tariff discounts to encourage migration from 3G to newer networks. The operator also said MVNOs, or mobile virtual network operators, using its 3G network must inform their own users directly, and that it plans to consult large-scale and special-purpose customers that still rely on the service. Domestic rival LG Uplus closed its 3G network in 2021.

Related questions

• When will SK Telecom fully shut down its 3G network?
• How many 3G customers does SK Telecom still have in South Korea?
• What support is SK Telecom offering to move 3G users to 4G and 5G?