In an LG Uplus store in downtown Seoul, a notice about USIM updates and exchanges is posted. According to the provided information, LG Uplus processed 783,717 USIM information changes just a week after starting free USIM exchanges and updates.
From April 13 to the day before, there were 437,951 USIM exchanges and 345,766 updates. This translates to 4.6% of the total subscribers, including MVNOs (around 17 million), changing their USIM information. This is similar to the level of SK Telecom’s performance last year when they replaced 1 million USIMs in a week, achieving a 4% exchange rate.
Unlike the initial stages of SKT’s USIM replacement, which experienced “open run” scenarios and long queues, LGU+’s USIM replacement is proceeding smoothly. However, some point out that due to inadequate promotion, many subscribers are unaware of it. As of the previous day, a cumulative total of 360,663 subscribers (about 2.9%) had made appointments to visit stores for USIM replacement or update. Only 0.5% (21,516 individuals) of MVNO customers had made store visit reservations as well.
LGU+ plans to continue informing customers about how to replace or update their USIMs.
Meanwhile, there have been concerns about the low security of LGU+’s system because the IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity), equivalent to a phone number’s resident registration number, was used as is. In response, LGU+ is conducting USIM replacement and updates for all subscribers to revamp the IMSI system.