CE Reading; (9) Reading: South Korea Launches 5G Networks Early to Secure World First

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South Korea Launches 5G Networks Early to Secure World First  

https://www.voanews.com/a/south-korea-launches-5g-networks-early-to-secure-world-first-/4861809.html  

 [Q] 5G를 개통한 국내 통신사는?

 [Q] SKT가 개통시킨 5G의 고객은?

 [Q] 4G와의 속도 비교는?

 [Q] 5G의 경제적 이득?

 [Q] Huawei의 5G기술을 사용하는 국내 통신사는?

SEOUL — 

South Korea launched the world's first nationwide 5G mobile networks

two days early, its top mobile carriers said Thursday,

giving a handful of users access in a late-night scramble

to be the first providers of the super-fast wireless technology.

Three top telecom providers -- SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus --

began their 5G services at 11 pm local time Wednesday,

despite previously announcing the launch date would be April 5.

Hyper-wired South Korea has long had a reputation for technical prowess,

and Seoul had made the 5G rollout a priority as it seeks to stimulate

stuttering economic growth.

Along with the US, China and Japan, South Korea had been racing

to claim the title as the world's first provider of the ultra-fast network.

But speculation that US mobile carrier Verizon might start

its 5G services early forced South Korean providers

to hastily organize a late-night launch, Yonhap news agency reported.

In the event, Verizon began rolling out its 5G services in Chicago

and Minneapolis on Wednesday in the US, a week ahead of schedule.

But according to Yonhap, the South Korean launches came two hours earlier.

"SK Telecom today announced that it has activated 5G services

for six celebrities representing Korea as of 11 pm April 3, 2019,"

the country's biggest mobile operator said in a news release Thursday.

The celebrities -- including two members of K-pop band EXO and

Olympic ice-skating heroine Kim Yu-na --

were "the world's first 5G smartphone subscribers", it said.

Both KT and LG Uplus said they also went live at the same time,

with a total of three specially-selected users:

KT offered it to the wife of a technician setting up its network

on the disputed island of Dokdo,

while LG Uplus provided it to a television personality and

her racing-driver husband.

For general customers, the services will be available from Friday

-- the original launch date -- when Samsung Electronics rolls out

the Galaxy S10 5G, the world's first available smartphone

with the technology built in.

Verizon's network will work with Lenovo's Moto Z3 smartphone

fitted with a special accessory, while rival US carrier AT&T launched

a 5G-based system in parts of 12 cities in December --

although it is only accessible to invited users through a free hotspot device,

rather than paying customers with mobiles.

Qatari firm Ooredoo said it offers 5G services in and around Doha --

but does not have devices available to use them --

while Japan is also expected to roll out a limited deployment in 2019

before full services start in time for next year's Tokyo Olympics.

Bitter standoff

Experts say 5G will bring smartphones near-instantaneous connectivity --

20 times faster than 4G -- allowing users to download entire movies

in less than a second.

The technology is crucial for the future development of devices

such as self-driving vehicles and is expected to bring about $565 billion

in global economic benefits by 2034,

according to the London-based Global System for Mobile Communications,

an industry alliance.

The implications of the new network have pitted Washington against Beijing

The US has pressed its allies and major economies

to avoid 5G solutions from Chinese-owned telecom giant Huawei,

citing security risks that technological backdoors could give

Beijing access to 5G-connected utilities and other components.

Chinese entities, including 1,529 5G patents registered by Huawei,

own a total of 3,400 patents -- more than a third of the total,

according to data analysis firm IPlytics.

South Korea comes next, with its companies holding 2,051 patents,

while US firms have 1,368 together.

Neither KT nor SK Telecom use Huawei technology in their 5G networks,

but it is a supplier to LG UPlus, the companies told AFP.

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