Two million users switch provider under MNP

More than two million South Korean mobile subscribers have switched their service provider since the introduction of mobile number portability (MNP) eight months ago. According to the Ministry of Information and Communication, a total of 2.01 million users have moved their accounts under the rule, which allows them to keep their existing mobile phone number. MNP has had an adverse impact on the country’s second largest cellco KTF Corp which lost market share to its larger rival SK Telecom. Last month KTF Corp lost a net 111,325 mobile subscribers and its share of the sector fell to 32.03% (11.54 million) from 32.33% in July. Under MNP mobile subscribers have been able to switch to SK Telecom from July, which now claims approximately 18.76 million subscribers. KTF was also barred from signing up any new customers in the period 1 to 19 August, as a punishment for selling illegal handset subsidies. Meanwhile, the smallest of South Korea’s three mobile operators, LG Telecom, added 67,780 subscribers in August to lift its total to 5.73 million, a market share of 15.9%.