7.7% mobile phone fee cut for vulnerable group… US to reach double result
Na Won Jae | nwj@ | 2017-07-07 10:51:04
Survey on main countries with mobile operators
Korea`s mobile operators showed that the reduction rate of mobile phone tariffs for vulnerable groups is larger than that of major countries such as the US and UK.
The mobile operators already offer discounts to vulnerable groups such as low-income, disabled, and elderly people, which are higher than overseas major countries. Recently, the government has complained that the government is paying a burden on companies due to additional KRW 11,000.
The government is also arguing that it is necessary for the government to support mobile phone expenses for vulnerable people by utilizing the broadcasting and communication development fund, etc., which are walking from domestic telecommunication and broadcasting companies.
According to the related industry on July 6, Korean mobile operators’ discount rates for the weakest class mobile operators are higher than those of overseas major countries such as the US and Europe.
As a result of compiling mobile phone rate reduction rates of vulnerable groups in overseas major countries, Verizon and AT & T carriers in the United States have decided to cut telecommunication expenses only for landline phones and mobile phones for low-income earners. In Europe, most countries except Belgium are subject to telecommunication rate cuts only for landline phones. In Europe, telecom fee reduction targets were mainly low-income and disabled people.
Meanwhile, there are many people who are eligible for reduction in low income, handicapped people, elderly people, and national meritorious people, and there are lots of fields such as landline phone, mobile communication, and Internet fee.
The proportion of vulnerable groups receiving the communication reduction exemption is also high in Korea. In the United States, the number of mobile phone rate reductions among the approximately 320 million people is about 13 million, and the ratio of the reduction rate to the population is 4.1%. On the other hand, in Britain, about 850,000 (1.9%) out of about 60 million people, about 140,000 (0.2%) out of about 65 million in France and about 100,000 (0.2%) out of about 46 million in Spain. In contrast, about 3.9 million out of about 50 million people in Korea are receiving mobile fee reductions.
The industry is also claiming that the government should share the burden of lowering household mobile phone costs. This year, there will be a total of KRW 844.2 billion for the broadcasting and communication development fund and KRW 374.5 billion for the information communication promotion fund. The total annual operation of the Broadcasting Communication Development Fund and the Information and Communication Promotion Fund is about KRW 1.4 trillion. It is pointed out that the fund is actually composed of the fees charged by mobile phone consumers. However, there is no indication that the broadcasting communication development fund is being used in the wrong places, such as one-third of the annual budget is spent on terrestrial broadcasters.
An industry expert pointed out, "It is unfair for the government to erase the expenses only for mobile operators, although the empowerment of the households of the vulnerable class is sympathetic. If the government uses the funds that are used as quasi-personalities to support the vulnerable, both companies and people will have fewer burdens.”
By Na Won Jae nwj@
[ copyright ⓒ The Digitaltimes ]
Korea`s mobile operators showed that the reduction rate of mobile phone tariffs for vulnerable groups is larger than that of major countries such as the US and UK.
The mobile operators already offer discounts to vulnerable groups such as low-income, disabled, and elderly people, which are higher than overseas major countries. Recently, the government has complained that the government is paying a burden on companies due to additional KRW 11,000.
The government is also arguing that it is necessary for the government to support mobile phone expenses for vulnerable people by utilizing the broadcasting and communication development fund, etc., which are walking from domestic telecommunication and broadcasting companies.
According to the related industry on July 6, Korean mobile operators’ discount rates for the weakest class mobile operators are higher than those of overseas major countries such as the US and Europe.
As a result of compiling mobile phone rate reduction rates of vulnerable groups in overseas major countries, Verizon and AT & T carriers in the United States have decided to cut telecommunication expenses only for landline phones and mobile phones for low-income earners. In Europe, most countries except Belgium are subject to telecommunication rate cuts only for landline phones. In Europe, telecom fee reduction targets were mainly low-income and disabled people.
Meanwhile, there are many people who are eligible for reduction in low income, handicapped people, elderly people, and national meritorious people, and there are lots of fields such as landline phone, mobile communication, and Internet fee.
The proportion of vulnerable groups receiving the communication reduction exemption is also high in Korea. In the United States, the number of mobile phone rate reductions among the approximately 320 million people is about 13 million, and the ratio of the reduction rate to the population is 4.1%. On the other hand, in Britain, about 850,000 (1.9%) out of about 60 million people, about 140,000 (0.2%) out of about 65 million in France and about 100,000 (0.2%) out of about 46 million in Spain. In contrast, about 3.9 million out of about 50 million people in Korea are receiving mobile fee reductions.
The industry is also claiming that the government should share the burden of lowering household mobile phone costs. This year, there will be a total of KRW 844.2 billion for the broadcasting and communication development fund and KRW 374.5 billion for the information communication promotion fund. The total annual operation of the Broadcasting Communication Development Fund and the Information and Communication Promotion Fund is about KRW 1.4 trillion. It is pointed out that the fund is actually composed of the fees charged by mobile phone consumers. However, there is no indication that the broadcasting communication development fund is being used in the wrong places, such as one-third of the annual budget is spent on terrestrial broadcasters.
An industry expert pointed out, "It is unfair for the government to erase the expenses only for mobile operators, although the empowerment of the households of the vulnerable class is sympathetic. If the government uses the funds that are used as quasi-personalities to support the vulnerable, both companies and people will have fewer burdens.”
By Na Won Jae nwj@