The number of consumers who changed mobile carriers through number portability in August decreased by 33% compared to July. After the abolition of the 'Act on Improvement of Distribution Structure for Mobile Communication Devices (the Device Subsidy Act),' it was expected that competition for subsidies among carriers would intensify, but as it is still in the early stages after the law's repeal, it is analyzed that carriers are continuing to engage in a game of caution.
On the 1st, the Korea Association of Communications Companies announced that the number of number portability cases in August was 644,618, a decrease of 32.6% compared to 956,863 in July. This decrease is analyzed as a result of the lull in the trend of departures from SK Telecom following the hacking incident involving SIM card information. In fact, SK Telecom saw an increase of 13,090 subscribers during the month of August, making it the only one among the three major carriers to record a net increase. In contrast, the number of SK Telecom subscribers who switched to KT and LG Uplus decreased by 61% and 56%, respectively, while those who switched to budget phones also fell by 63%.
The number of number portability cases in May, when the most number of changes occurred, was 933,509.