Consumer Experiences of the World’s First 5G Network in South Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate South Korean consumers’ feelings and experiences of the 5G network. Using R3.5.3 topic modeling, we text mined 38,649 tweets from April to December 2019 to identify key experiences. The results of the topic modeling indicated that South Korean consumers are proud of having the world’s first deployment of a nationwide 5G network, and welcome the promises of 5G. Additionally, the results revealed that consumers enjoyed live streaming and immersive content using technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and 360° video. Data plans and speeds have resulted in these consumers being at the forefront of cellular technology deployment. Noticeable negative opinions were found on the performance and stability of the service, and included service disruptions and slower speeds than expected. Due to the slow installation progress of the 5G base stations and the non-standalone versions of the 5G network, delays in the non-standalone 5G version are inevitable the standalone 5G version may be run. This study shows that Korean consumers are receiving the chance to experience the future via new 5G technologies. As standalone 5G networks become widely deployed and more 5G capable devices and infrastructure becomes available, 5G will transform consumer lifestyles.