[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Kim Jisun] The combined operating profit of the three mobile carriers is expected to exceed KRW 1 trillion in the third quarter.

According to FnGuide on the 12th, the combined consolidated operating profit of the three mobile carriers in the third quarter was 1.2 trillion won, up 5% from a year earlier. SK Telecom was estimated at 484.8 billion won, KT 4956 billion won, and LG Uplus 287.8 billion won. The figure is up 4.14 percent, 9.43 percent and 0.96 percent, respectively, from the same period last year.

The reason for the high performance of the three mobile carriers is attributed to the increase in subscribers to the 5G plan. The average monthly sales (ARPU) per subscriber to the 5G plan is about 1.5 times higher than LTE. If you earn 20,000 won with the LTE plan, you can earn 30,000 won if you force the 5G plan.

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT's 'August Wireless Communication Service Statistics', SK Telecom's 5G subscribers recorded 15,009,720 (5G market share 47.6%). KT recorded 9,433,889 (29.9%) and LG Uplus 6,755,872 (21.4%), respectively.

However, there are concerns that profitability will decrease in the fourth quarter. This is because the government is also pushing to join the LTE plan with 5G smartphones. It plans to request the telecommunications company to improve the terms and conditions and propose an amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act by the end of this year.

[ⓒ AlphaBIZ. 무단전재-재배포 금지]