The South Korean government has announced the launch of free mobile internet for millions of citizens within the «social limit».
Free internet: terms and conditions
According to the new initiative, even if a subscriber runs out of paid traffic, he or she will be able to use the mobile internet at a speed of 400 kbps. According to the government, this is enough for text messaging, navigation maps and search engines.
In the first phase, the programme will cover more than 7.17 million people. The innovation is expected to be launched by June 2026.
Reasons for launching the initiative
According to government officials, the initiative is a response to the massive data breach in 2025 that affected 27 million subscribers. Mobile operators are now investing in the public good to restore user trust.
The free access programme is not seen as charity, but as compensation after a data security incident.
Additional tariffs and benefits for the elderly
Mobile operators are also preparing new tariff plans costing up to 20,000 won (approximately $13.5). Extended packages of minutes and gigabytes are planned for people aged 65 and over.
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