LG Uplus said on Tuesday it launched a priority network access service for firefighters to reduce disruptions caused by network congestion during disaster response. The service is designed to keep firefighters' calls and data use more stable when mobile traffic spikes during major fires or accidents. The company said it follows an agreement signed with the National Fire Agency in October and a joint build-out by the three mobile carriers. It has begun replacing SIM cards starting in Changwon.

South Korea will begin full implementation on June 10 of an emergency rescue communications priority transmission service that gives precedence to calls between firefighters at disaster sites and ordinary users when demand for mobile service surges. The science ministry said it confirmed the service meets special-service requirements under net neutrality guidelines. The three mobile carriers applied dedicated USIMs to firefighting devices. The ministry said it is the first case since 2011 deemed to meet special-service criteria.