SK Telecom, one of the biggest communication companies in South Korea, said that by the end of 2019 it expects to surpass 2 million subscribers.
SK launched 5G services in Korea in April, the first company and country to launch the service this year, and has grown its 5G subscribers to 530,000 as of the end of June.
The growth in subscribers is expected to come as SK Telecom builds multiple 5G clusters in main areas across South Korea to shift the telecommunications industry around 5G services. In the meantime, SK said it will work to stabilize its 5G network and differentiate service benefits.
SK Telecom has already launched roaming services in other countries, working with Swisscom in Switzerland to expand service to users.
Also since launching 5G service, the company has been experimenting with different ways to improve services using 5G. This includes demonstrating next-generation television broadcasting in future cars with a 5G network and ATSC 3.0, developing HD maps for autonomous vehicles that automatically update road information and hazards and testing how 5G networks can bring new services to small villages, demonstrating the network in an isolated village in Korea's Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).