The government is pushing a revamp of mobile plans to strengthen basic communications rights. It will include a data safety option (QoS) in all LTE and 5G data plans at no extra charge and launch a 5G plan in the 20,000 won range, speeding efforts to cut telecom bills.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said on Wednesday it announced the direction of plan changes for the three mobile carriers at a ministerial task force on special management of living costs and would expand access rights centred on data. With guaranteeing data-centred basic communications rights being pursued as a key state agenda item, the ministry has held talks with the three carriers since last year.

All LTE and 5G data plans will include QoS at no extra charge. QoS will apply not only to plans that are revised in the future but also to existing data plans that do not include the data safety option. As a result, even after users exhaust their data allowance, a speed level that allows use of basic data services such as messaging and map searches will be guaranteed.

The ministry expects about 7,170,000 users to benefit. Considering reductions in excess data charges and the effect of moving to lower-tier plans, it expects annual telecom bill savings of about 322.1 billion won.

Support for older people will also be strengthened. Under the revised plans, users aged 65 and over will receive voice calls and text messages as a basic provision with no limits, and older subscribers on plans with limits on voice and text allowances will also receive additional voice and text. About 1,400,000 older subscribers are expected to benefit, with annual telecom bill savings projected at about 59.0 billion won.

The plan structure will also be simplified. LTE and 5G plans will be integrated, cutting the combined number of plans across the three carriers from about 250 to less than half, and a 5G plan in the 20,000 won range will be newly launched. Additional benefits will be applied automatically by age even if users subscribe only to general plans without signing up for separate plans for youth and seniors.

The government plans to introduce the "Optimal Plan Notification System" in October so users can more easily choose a plan that fits them.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Kyung-hoon Bae (배경훈) said the plan revamp would create a mobile ecosystem that guarantees basic communications rights. He said the government would complete the plan revision procedures with the three carriers in the first half so people can feel the benefits soon.