Seoul has become the first city in the country to be designated as a telecommunications provider. Moving forward, it plans to install more than 10,000 public Wi-Fi networks in traditional markets and along rivers, allowing citizens to access the internet for free.
As of the 31st, Seoul noted that it currently has over 34,000 public Wi-Fi networks and plans to install around 13,000 new ones over the next five years while also expanding its fiber optic cable network.
According to Seoul, public Wi-Fi is currently installed in public transport such as subways and buses, bus stops, parks, and major streets. The mobile Wi-Fi installed in over 7,000 city buses is used daily by millions.
Last year, the number of public Wi-Fi users in Seoul was 1.287 billion. According to survey results from last year, the percentage of Seoul citizens who used public Wi-Fi for free increased to 74.5%, up from 60.7% in 2021. Satisfaction was recorded at 74.8%. Data usage exceeded 36,000 terabytes (TB). In terms of 5G mobile communication fees, this amounts to around 207.2 billion won annually.
Seoul plans to install public Wi-Fi in areas such as traditional markets and riverbanks, where citizens frequently visit, but private telecommunications companies have not actively installed networks. It will replace over 2,000 aging public Wi-Fi devices and construct 777 kilometers of new fiber optic cable.
Seoul was designated as the first local government in the country to be a telecommunications provider. Telecommunications providers are organizations that install communication facilities and facilitate public benefits through services like telephone and internet. They provide Wi-Fi services to unspecified individuals. Notable examples include SK Broadband, KT, and LG Uplus.
Until now, the government has restricted national and local governments from building their own communication networks to provide Wi-Fi. However, a revision to the Telecommunications Business Act in January of last year made it possible for local governments to register as telecommunications providers.
Seoul has previously operated public Wi-Fi services by paying expenses to telecommunications companies. In the future, it will be able to utilize its self-built network, allowing it to provide public Wi-Fi even in areas where using telecommunications company networks is challenging.
Kang Ok-hyeon, the director of digital city from Seoul, noted, "We have gained institutional authority to build and utilize our own networks without relying on the private sector," and said, "We will manage to ensure that citizens can conveniently use free Wi-Fi without discrimination."