South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT will discuss ways to revitalise the budget mobile market with the industry. It will hear views on follow-up steps to its previously announced 'Budget Mobile 2.0' measures and their on-the-ground rollout.

The ministry will hold a closed-door meeting with budget mobile operators on Sept. 30 afternoon at Budget Mobile Square in Seoul's Seodaemun district, the telecommunications industry said on Sept. 22. Choi Woo-hyuk (최우혁), director general for network policy at the ministry, is expected to chair the meeting.

The ministry plans to review how the Budget Mobile 2.0 policy is being felt in the field and hear industry difficulties and additional institutional improvement tasks. It is pursuing stronger industry competitiveness through the policy, including raising the spectrum usage fee reduction rate for small and mid-sized budget mobile operators to 90 percent from 50 percent and supporting the activation of full MVNOs.

Wholesale network fees, data-provision terms, subscriber acquisition and measures to improve profitability are expected to be key agenda items. Officials from the Korea MVNO Association and executives of major budget mobile operators are expected to attend. The ministry is also expected to ask for cooperation to ensure smooth implementation of the Budget Mobile 2.0 measures, including expanding customer service centres.