beSUCCESS covers weekly news in Korea, 18 Feb.

At the end of last week South Korea’s communications watchdog turned down bids by two Korean firms to set up the country’s fourth mobile operator.

LG U+, Korea’s third-largest mobile carrier, will release the nation’s first unlimited-data plans for customers using LTE networks. From Jan. 31 to April 30, customers who switch from another provider will be eligible for the free plan, fueling the intensifying battle for new LTE customers.

As mobile phone fraud cases are increasing, SK Telecom, KT, LG U+ and organisations such as Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA) and Korea Association of ICT Promotion have meeting discussing prevention measures for mobile loan fraud schemes.

Since 2010, SK telecom suffered a 28.3% reduction in their overall SMS service, and fears a further 32.3% decline by the end of next year if the current trend persists. Their SMS count per person dropped from 1,819 message per person in 2010 to a mere 1,268 in 2011. It is expected to continue reducing, as the count as of June 2012 was 429 messages per person.