KT halts new 3G sign-ups and non-HD Voice LTE changes from 2 November 2026

KT stopped accepting new subscriptions, number porting and device changes for 3G phones and for LTE phones that do not support HD Voice, starting on 2 November 2026, according to digitaltoday.co.kr. The move follows SK Telecom, which applied the same measure from 20 August 2026.

Both carriers are steering affected customers to LTE and 5G. SK Telecom and KT offer a free replacement with one of three designated LTE/5G handsets plus a monthly bill discount of up to 12,000 won for 24 months.

Customers who prefer to keep choosing a device can take a different route. SK Telecom offers up to 380,000 won toward buying a handset of the customer's choice, while KT gives 150,000 won in device-change points for phones, with bill discounts also applying. On bill-discount-only terms, SK Telecom offers up to 70% off the monthly plan for 24 months, while KT offers 14,000 won off per month for phones.

Customers who cancel or move to another carrier instead of switching will have related penalties waived, and both companies pay 40,000 won per phone line in that case. SK Telecom also allows 3G subscribers aged 65 or older who move to LTE or 5G to sign up for the existing New Silver plan at 9,900 won per month, while KT plans separate customized guidance for older customers.

Korea had 252,591 3G phone lines at the end of August 2026, of which 128,643 — 50.9% — were on MVNOs. SK Telecom and KT are reportedly discussing transition support measures with the MVNOs that use their 3G networks.

The actual shutdown date will be decided after government approval, and the Ministry of Science and ICT will collect user protection plans from carriers. 3G-based IoT lines such as elevator emergency call equipment also need to be migrated, which requires replacing communication modules or related equipment. An industry official expects full shutdown to be possible only after the second half of 2027.