South Korea became the first country to offer nationwide 5G mobile service in 2019.
South Korean mobile operators launched commercial 5G services in April 2019, making South Korea the first country to introduce nationwide commercial 5G service. The launch followed extensive preparations by operators, device makers, and the national communications industry.
5G is the fifth generation of cellular mobile technology. It was designed to support higher capacity, lower latency, and more connected devices than earlier generations, although actual performance depends on spectrum, network design, distance, and congestion.
The first 5G launches used different frequency ranges, including mid-band spectrum and higher-frequency millimetre-wave bands in some markets. “Nationwide” does not mean every location received identical coverage on launch day; it refers to the service being introduced as a national commercial offering rather than only a limited demonstration or single-site trial.