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MNO subsidiaries take nearly half of budget carrier users; experts say fair competition rules must be redrawn

South Korea needs to curb subscriber concentration at MVNO subsidiaries of mobile network operators while strengthening the self-sufficiency of independent MVNOs for the government’s “MVNO 2.0” policy to succeed, participants at a policy seminar said. They cited data showing five MNO subsidiaries account for 47.5 percent of subscribers among 59 MVNO operators. Speakers called for legal and institutional measures, greater transparency and wholesale reforms, and urged a policy shift toward sustainable competition and qualitative growth.