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Why is South Korea at the forefront of 5G? Insights from technology systems theory

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  • Massaro, Maria
  • Kim, Seongcheol

Abstract

South Korea became the first country in the world to launch a nationwide 5G network and commercialize 5G services. The Korean government played an essential role in the development of 5G, creating a tailored institutional arrangement that allowed South Korea to be at the forefront of 5G. In particular, the government set up a detailed time plan on how to go about 5G deployment and commercialization. The government also facilitated collaborative work between companies, research institutes, and academia, and strongly promoted R&D work for the development of 5G equipment, devices, and applications, providing financial and administrative support, opportunities for field trials, and various forms of incentive, including tax benefits to companies. This study analyzed the 5G socio-technical system in South Korea through the lens of technology systems theory, identifying and discussing crucial factors that have propelled 5G development and major latent aspects, such as the lack of killer applications for consumers and in vertical industries, which may potentially hinder the further growth and stabilization of the 5G system in South Korea.

Suggested Citation

  • Massaro, Maria & Kim, Seongcheol, 2022. "Why is South Korea at the forefront of 5G? Insights from technology systems theory," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(5).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:46:y:2022:i:5:s0308596121001944
    DOI: 10.1016/j.telpol.2021.102290
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    Cited by:

    1. Lim, Chulmin & Rowsell, Joe & Kim, Seongcheol, 2023. "Exploring the killer domains to create new value: A Comparative case study of Canadian and Korean telcos," 32nd European Regional ITS Conference, Madrid 2023: Realising the digital decade in the European Union – Easier said than done? 277998, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    2. Rossi, Maria Alessandra, 2024. "EU technology-specific industrial policy. The case of 5G and 6G," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(2).
    3. Yunho Ji & Sang-Min Kim & YoungJun Kim, 2024. "A Way to Attract Digital Nomads to Tourist Destinations in the New Normal Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Lim, Chulmin & Rowsell, Joe & Kim, Seongcheol, 2024. "Exploring killer domains to create new value: A comparative case study of Canadian and Korean telcos," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(4).
    5. Liu, Yu-li & Tian, Li & Li, Changyan & Wu, Yanfei, 2024. "Analyzing the competitiveness and strategies of Chinese mobile network operators in the 5G era," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(2).
    6. Blind, Knut & Niebel, Crispin, 2022. "5G roll-out failures addressed by innovation policies in the EU," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    7. Parcu, Pier Luigi & Pisarkiewicz, Anna Renata & Carrozza, Chiara & Innocenti, Niccolò, 2023. "The future of 5G and beyond: Leadership, deployment and European policies," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(9).
    8. Michael Cabanillas-Carbonell & Jorge Pérez-Martínez & Jaime A. Yáñez, 2023. "5G Technology in the Digital Transformation of Healthcare, a Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, February.
    9. Kim, Min Sung & Kim, Junghwan & Kim, Seongcheol, 2023. "Korea's leadership in 5G and beyond: Footprints and futures," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(8).

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