SK Telecom - South Korea
SK Telecom (South Korea) uses 1 UMTS band, 4 LTE bands, and 2 5G NR bands. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work with SK Telecom (South Korea). See the tables below for details.
Check device compatibilityCarrier website: http://www.sktelecom.com/
Last updated: 2024/08/04 - See latest updates
SK Telecom is the largest mobile operator in South Korea, holding nearly 50 percent of the market share. It has been a pioneer in the development and commercialization of various mobile network technologies, including CDMA in 1996, LTE-A in 2013, and 5G in 2019. The company is part of the SK Group and was founded in Seoul in 1984. SK Telecom offers a wide range of services, including mobile multimedia services, telematics services, and online interfaces to remote-control household devices. The company is also focusing on becoming a global AI company through its AI Pyramid Strategy, which aims to innovate industries, society, and life by strengthening its AI competitiveness and collaborating with global partners.
Frequency Bands
UMTS
| Name | Interface | Description |
|---|---|---|
| B1 (2100 MHz) | UMTS | SK Telecom South Korea uses the UMTS B1 (2100 MHz) frequency band. This band was deployed in October 2000, when SK Telecom became the second operator in the world to launch a commercial 3G service using W-CDMA technology. |
Supported UMTS Protocols
| Name | Generation |
|---|---|
| UMTS | 3G |
| HSPA+ | 3.5G (4G speed) |
LTE
| Name | Interface | Description |
|---|---|---|
| B1 (2100 MHz) | LTE | SK Telecom South Korea uses the LTE B1 (2100 MHz) frequency band. This band is used for LTE services. |
| B3 (1800 MHz +) | LTE | SK Telecom South Korea uses LTE band B3 (1800 MHz +). This band was deployed as part of the commercial Wideband LTE service in Seoul metropolitan areas on September 30, 2013. |
| B5 (850 MHz) | LTE | SK Telecom South Korea uses LTE Band 5 (850 MHz) for its LTE network. The frequency band is deployed for both uplink and downlink operations. The uplink frequency range is 814 - 849 MHz, and the downlink frequency range is 859 - 894 MHz. |
| B7 (2600 MHz) | LTE | SK Telecom South Korea uses the LTE B7 (2600 MHz) frequency band. This band was added to their network on August 4, 2024. |
Supported LTE Protocols
| Name | Generation |
|---|---|
| LTE | 4G |
| LTE-A | 4G |
5G NR
| Name | Interface | Description |
|---|---|---|
| N78 (3500 MHz) | 5G NR | SK Telecom South Korea uses the 5G NR band N78 (3500 MHz). This frequency band is part of the sub-6 GHz range and is used for 5G services. The deployment details for this band are not specified in the provided information. |
| N257 (mmWave 28 GHz) | 5G NR | SK Telecom in South Korea has used the 28 GHz frequency band for 5G NR N257 (mmWave) services. The deployment of this frequency band was a part of the 5G spectrum auction held in June 2018, where SK Telecom, along with other local operators, secured frequencies in the 3.5 GHz and 28 GHz bands. The 28 GHz band was intended to be used for high-speed and low-latency services, particularly in densely populated areas. However, due to a lack of investment and failure to meet deployment requirements, SK Telecom's license for the 28 GHz band was canceled in May 2023. |
Latest updates
- 2024/08/04 - Frequency CDMA BC0 (800 MHz) removed from SK Telecom South Korea.
- 2024/08/04 - Frequency LTE B7 (2600 MHz) added to SK Telecom South Korea.
- 2024/08/04 - Frequency 5G NR N78 (3500 MHz) added to SK Telecom South Korea.
- 2024/08/04 - Frequency 5G NR N257 (mmWave 28 GHz) added to SK Telecom South Korea.
