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| South Korea's three mobile carriers held launch parties for Samsung's Galaxy S10 5G, which costs at least $1,200 (AFP Photo/JUNG Yeon-Je) |
Samsung Electronics on Friday released the Galaxy S10 5G, the world's first available smartphone with built-in fifth-generation communications technology, as South Korea seeks to build a lead in the transformative system.
On
Wednesday the South became the first country to commercially launch nationwide
5G services, with three superfast networks going live offering data speeds that
allow users to download entire movies in less than a second.
Hours later
US giant Verizon began commercial services in Chicago and Minneapolis, after
rival AT&T made a 5G-based system available to selected users in parts of
12 cities in December.
South
Korea's three mobile carriers -- SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus -- held launch events
across Seoul for the Galaxy S10, whose base version costs 1.39 million won
($1,200).
Interactive
virtual-reality displays and robot demonstrations were on show to tout the
capabilities of the latest iteration of mobile internet speed, and new users were
excited about the possibilities, especially live streaming of sports games and
university lectures.
"I
watch a lot of videos often, movies and lectures," said buyer Shim Ji-hye,
38. "I hope faster speeds will help me manage my time better."
Another user
said he was most excited about virtual reality content -- which includes games
and even "celebrity VR dating" apps according to the country's mobile
carriers.
With 5G,
said researcher Lee Sang-yoon, VR content "can be enjoyed in real time
with no delay... I'll be able to enjoy it in better resolution and speed".
Before
Friday's roll-out of the Samsung phone, the 5G service had been restricted to a
handful of specially selected users in South Korea.
Rival
manufacturer LG is due to launch its V50 ThinQ, another 5G phone, in the South
later this month, while in the US, Verizon's network works with Lenovo's Moto
Z3 smartphone fitted with a special accessory.
Commercialising
5G gives South Korea the chance to build around the technology, which is
crucial for the future development of devices such as autonomous vehicles and
the Internet of Things.
It is
expected to bring about $565 billion in global economic benefits by 2034,
according to the London-based Global System for Mobile Communications, an
industry alliance.
The
implications of the new technology have pitted Washington against Beijing --
whose firms dominate 5G technology -- in an increasingly bitter standoff.
The US has
pressed its allies and major economies to avoid 5G solutions from Chinese-owned
telecom giant Huawei, citing security risks that technological backdoors could
give Beijing access to 5G-connected utilities and other components.
Chinese
entities own a total of 3,400 5G patents -- more than a third of the total,
according to data analysis firm IPlytics -- with 1,529 of those registered by
Huawei.
South Korea
comes next, with its companies holding 2,051 patents, while US firms have 1,368
together.
Neither KT
nor SK Telecom use Huawei technology in their 5G networks, but it is a supplier
to LG UPlus, the companies told AFP.
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