South Korea’s mobile services market is expected to grow through 2030 as rising 5G adoption boosts mobile data revenues and offsets declining voice revenues.
GlobalData forecasts mobile data service revenue to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5% from 2025 to 2030, driven by rising mobile internet subscriptions, particularly on 5G networks, and growing demand for premium data plans.
Meanwhile, mobile voice service revenue is projected to decline at a CAGR of 6.2% over the same period as consumers increasingly shift to over-the-top (OTT) communication platforms, putting pressure on voice average revenue per user (ARPU).
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GlobalData forecasts average monthly mobile data usage to rise from 19.4 GB in 2025 to 41.8 GB by 2030, driven by higher consumption of video streaming, social media, and other bandwidth-intensive digital services.
The report expects 5G to remain the dominant mobile technology in South Korea, accounting for 94% of total mobile subscriptions by the end of 2030. According to GlobalData, continued network expansion, broader adoption of 5G service plans, and strong consumer demand for high-speed connectivity will support the transition.
Government-led initiatives are also expected to accelerate adoption. GlobalData said South Korea’s 5G+ strategy aims to expand 5G coverage to more than 90% of mobile users by 2026 through infrastructure investments, regulatory support, and industry-focused deployment programs.
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The report also noted that South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT mandated in December 2025 that all 5G base stations connect to a standalone 5G core network by 2026 to improve network performance and unlock lower-latency capabilities.
In addition, South Korea’s three major telecom operators committed in April 2026 to introduce lower-cost 5G plans in partnership with the ICT ministry, aiming to accelerate migration from 4G to 5G.
GlobalData expects SK Telecom to retain market leadership in subscriptions through 2030, supported by continued investments in technologies such as 5G and IoT.
Hrushikesh Mahananda, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, said:
South Korea’s mobile market is rapidly evolving, with operators focusing on expanding 5G adoption and effectively monetizing surging data usage. As data usage surges, operators will prioritize wider network rollouts, capacity enhancements, and tiered pricing strategies to convert traffic growth into revenue. Additionally, digital services, content bundling, and ecosystem partnerships will play an important role in driving customer engagement and long-term value creation in an intensely competitive landscape.