South Korea’s Ministry of Science has announced the launch of a program to provide universal basic access to mobile data.

The initiative, agreed with the country’s largest telecom operators — SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus — guarantees that more than seven million subscribers will be able to stay connected even after exhausting their main data packages. Users will continue to have internet access at a speed of 400 Kbps at no additional cost.

Authorities believe that guaranteeing basic connectivity rights is an important step toward ensuring public well-being in the transition to an AI-driven society. Online services have become an integral part of citizens’ lives, while telecom companies also need to rebuild trust after a series of data breaches and security shortcomings.

In addition to introducing unlimited low-speed access, operators have taken on several additional commitments: launching affordable 5G tariff plans and expanding call and data allowances for elderly citizens. Furthermore, the government has secured commitments from companies to upgrade Wi-Fi infrastructure in metro systems and railway transport. In turn, the state has pledged to support research into next-generation networks necessary for the development of artificial intelligence technologies.