LG Uplus introduces new 5G plan with data refunds

Industry

Published: 05 Oct. 2023, 18:32 Updated: 05 Oct. 2023, 19:22

LG Uplus introduces new 5G plan with data refunds

Mobile carrier LG Uplus rolled out 16 different data subscription plans on its new app Nerget tailored to the diverse needs of young users, the company said on Thursday. Pictured are models advertising the new app Nerget. [LG UPLUS]

Mobile carrier LG Uplus released a new 5G subscription plan that refunds users if they have spare data, it announced on Thursday.

The company rolled out 16 different data subscription plans tailored to the diverse needs of young consumers. As the options are nonbinding, users are free to switch to different options whenever they want, and receive refunds if they trade in spare data before the end of the month.

The cheapest monthly fee is set at 30,000 won ($22.21) with 1 gigabyte of data, and offers the option to select between 1 to 24 gigabytes of data with different data processing speeds. Subscribers wanting an infinite amount of data can do so with a monthly fee of 59,000 won.

Dubbed the “Nerget data subscription fee,” users can purchase the plans on the mobile app Nerget, also released on the same day.

“We diversified our options to attract younger users to our subscription model,” said Kim Kui-hyun, head of the company’s telco-life platform division at an online press event Thursday. “What we observed among 20-something consumers’ data usage patterns is that they are largely polarized into two groups: One uses as little data as possible and relies on public Wi-Fi at their schools, cafes, and workplaces, while the other group chooses to subscribe to the infinite data usage plan so that they can go online without limits.”

The 16 options run on a limited promotion and can be purchased until March 2024. If the promotion is successful, the company will consider turning the options into a regular subscription plan.

The data usage fees will be paid in advance, with additional data freely available on the mobile app. Nerget also offers different packages for additional data usage, such as ones allowing users to use infinite amounts of data during a designated time period, or offering data purchases for tethering.

The Nerget app alerts the users on a 10-day basis on how much data they’ve used. LG Uplus plans to turn the mobile app into a lifestyle platform by providing a variety of leisure-related content and promotions. The app will be regularly updated with new content to retain the userbase.

“The app plans to provide content such as introducing new eateries and exhibitions for users to visit,” Kim said. “Free coupons and discounts for [shops at] popular places such as Yeonhee-dong and Yeonnam-dong [in western Seoul] will also be offered via the app.”

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]