April 24, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Korea’s top mobile carrier SK Telecom saw its market share fall to the low 40 percent range in late July, data showed on Sept. 5.

According to the data compiled by the Ministry of Science and ICT, SK Telecom controlled 41.9 percent of the market, down from over 50 percent enjoyed in the past.

The company has witnessed its share decrease more or less by 1 percentage point every year since 2012, when its market share fell below the 50 percent mark for the first time to 49.5 percent.

By contrast, LG Uplus, the smallest player, posted a record high market share of 20 percent last month.

No. 2 player KT saw its market share advance 0.2 percentage point on-year in July to reach 26.1 percent.

Industry watchers said SK Telecom’s market share could even fall below the 40 percent mark, although the company may still be able to retain its present position for a few years longer.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)