A proposal said fees for assigning and re-assigning radio spectrum should be designed to take account of operators' earnings and capital investment as the AI and 6G era approaches.

The Korea Radio Policy Society said on Aug. 26 it held its 2026 comprehensive academic conference at Korea Aerospace University on Aug. 25 under the theme "The direction of radio policy amid the spread of AI".

Industry, academia and research experts gave presentations and held discussions on radio policy and technology issues, including mobile spectrum use technology and standardisation, low-Earth-orbit satellites and drones, spectrum policy and radio station inspections, and 5G specialised networks.

In a spectrum policy session, KISDI group head Jihwan Kim (김지환) introduced AI infrastructure, mobile telecommunications networks and spectrum policy trends in the United States, China and Europe.

According to Kim, the United States is pursuing ways for mobile carriers to use telecommunications network assets as edge AI inference resources as big tech leads AI infrastructure buildouts. In China, mobile carriers are participating in a state-led AI infrastructure buildout, and the 6 GHz band has been allocated to 6G.

The European Union is pursuing policies to boost the investment capacity of telecommunications operators through the Digital Network Act (DNA). Key measures include a ban on adding spectrum assignment conditions and rationalising re-assignment fees.

Heeseob Byun (변희섭), a professor at Hallym University, analysed that spectrum assignment fees that are too low could lead to excess demand and inefficient use, while fees that are too high could raise barriers to entry, weaken competition and push up consumer prices.

Byun proposed linking the spectrum fee system to operators' investment, coverage and quality performance and strengthening price discovery through auctions and secondary markets. He stressed the need for an incentive-compatible design that simultaneously considers operators' earnings and capital investment.

ETRI researcher Ingap Yeo (여인갑) said an analysis of overseas spectrum re-assignment cases showed that even when discriminatory pricing was applied in the initial assignment, most cases applied the same price at re-assignment.

Yeo said that when calculating re-assignment fees, the principle is to reassess current value rather than simply carry over past prices. He said that if technology and licence conditions are the same within the same band, the same unit price should apply regardless of the operator. He added that if price differentiation is needed, objective reasons should be presented, such as block quality, differences in rights and obligations, or promoting competition.

Kim Ji-hoon (김지훈), a senior specialist adviser at law firm Sejong who chaired the session, said, "Above all, it is important to calculate spectrum assignment fees rationally based on a clear understanding of the legal meaning of the 'economic value of spectrum' stipulated in the Radio Waves Act." He said, "Through this, there is a need to firmly strengthen the foundation of spectrum policy that drives the AI and 6G era."