The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 27th that it has confirmed the '2025 Public Frequency Supply Plan' through the Public Frequency Policy Council and notified the results to each institution.
The Ministry of Science and ICT, under Article 18-6 of the Radio Waves Act, reviews the frequency utilization plans for the following year from central administrative agencies, public institutions, and others every year to establish and implement the Public Frequency Supply Plan. This year, 20 institutions, including the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, submitted 41 new frequency utilization plans to the Ministry of Science and ICT.
As a result of evaluating the frequency utilization plans submitted by each institution, the Ministry of Science and ICT found that 8 plans were appropriate, 3 were inappropriate, and 30 were conditionally appropriate. It has been determined that a total bandwidth of 7.5 GHz (gigahertz) of public frequencies will be supplied in 2025. For those conditionally appropriate, the supply is based on joint use among institutions and adjustments to requirements for efficient frequency utilization.
The Ministry of Science and ICT noted that in preparing the '2025 Public Frequency Supply Plan,' it focused on national safety assurance through climate RAY and the enhancement of defense and security through unmanned systems, as well as public service innovations such as urban air mobility (UAM).
Specifically, to ensure national safety, it plans to supply a frequency bandwidth of 300 MHz (megahertz) for safety areas (11 cases) aimed at enhancing maritime safety and responding to climate anomalies. For defense and security enhancement, a frequency of 4.8 GHz will be provided for defense areas (18 cases) for establishing anti-drone systems and operating unmanned systems. Additionally, new services in the public sector such as satellites and UAM (9 cases) will receive a frequency bandwidth of 2.4 GHz to promote innovation in new industries and services.
In the future, the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to push for frequency supply after a detailed review of interference impacts during the licensing of radio stations, in line with the business promotion and the schedule for establishing radio stations for the frequency utilization plans that received an appropriate evaluation.
Choi Byeong-taek, head of the Radio Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, emphasized, "As a limited resource, frequency is a core element of wireless communication, and its importance is growing in the digital age." He added, "We will continue to support the efficient supply and management of public frequencies to enhance public convenience and safety, as well as to foster and activate new industries."