Science ministry starts review of spectrum reassignment fees

The science ministry said it will launch an expert research group and hold a kickoff meeting Thursday, starting an overhaul of the system used to calculate fees for reassigning spectrum after a usage period ends.

In the AI era, spectrum has become core infrastructure shaping national competitiveness as data flows through it, the ministry said. It said a revised framework should encourage efficient spectrum use while reasonably reflecting spectrum's economic value. Specialists in law, economics, business management and technology will examine that value, changes in market and policy conditions and overseas trends before preparing improvement measures.

Under the current approach, reassignment is pursued after a spectrum use period expires if it is considered necessary, taking user protection and service continuity into account. Regulations require an appropriate charge to be calculated and imposed at reassignment after consideration of spectrum's economic value as a scarce national resource.