SK Telecom (CEO Jung Jae-heon) announced on the 22nd that it has begun nationwide intensive quality management in preparation for the sharp increase in communication traffic during the Christmas and year-end holidays.
The company has identified 1,100 locations, including Gwanghwamun Square, sunrise viewing spots, and major event venues, where crowds are expected to gather and has prepared customized communication plans for these areas, along with a real-time response system to provide a stable network environment.
SK Telecom has designated key bustling areas such as Gwanghwamun Square and festival venues as special management zones from December 23rd to 25th. Furthermore, from December 31st to January 1st, next year, the company will enforce a ‘special communication plan period’ and strengthen 24-hour communication monitoring in response to the year-end crowd concentration.
During this period, SK Telecom, in collaboration with its subsidiaries SK Broadband, SK O&S, and Home & Service, as well as affiliated and partner companies including SK AX and SK Shieldus, will deploy about 900 people daily at major sites across the country. These teams will inspect network quality in real-time and maintain a system ready for immediate response in case of disruptions or congestion.
Expecting a rise in year-end traffic, SK Telecom has pre-expanded base station capacity focusing on areas expected to see increased traffic such as countdown spots, New Year event places, sunrise viewing locations, key transportation points, tourist attractions, and accommodations. Specifically, on December 31st, the company anticipates a data usage increase of up to 9% compared to normal days and has completed quality checks and service optimization tasks accordingly.
On January 1st, the first day of the New Year, SK Telecom expects a surge in New Year’s greetings sent via SNS and messengers and plans to maintain service quality by analyzing traffic patterns in advance. This ensures users can send and receive messages, such as texts and KakaoTalk, without delays.
SK Telecom has also strengthened security management alongside communication quality. Aimed at countering illegal spam, phishing, and hacking attempts that exploit the year-end atmosphere, real-time monitoring systems led by the Integrated Security Center are in place. The company focuses on detecting mobile malware apps, blocking web hacking attempts, and monitoring DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks to enhance customer information protection and service stability.
Bok Jae-won, head of SK Telecom’s network operations, stated, “We will dedicate all our efforts to maintain a stable and reliable communication environment, ensuring that our customers can enjoy a peaceful year-end and welcome the New Year smoothly.”