SK Telecom: A consumer 5G strategy centred on bundling and customer segmentation

Our latest consumer survey shows that almost half of non-5G users plan to upgrade to 5G. However, the work remains cut out for operators in terms of capitalising on this positive consumer sentiment for successful 5G monetisation. More efforts across areas such as 5G network quality, 5G customer segmentation, tariff innovation and 5G partnerships are key to advancing consumer 5G adoption and monetisation. In this report we explore the above and further aspects of consumer 5G in depth, supplemented with three operator case studies on consumer 5G from around the globe.

For industry players, the developments at CES have important implications for the road ahead. For operators, for example, this includes the area of network quality of service and the opening up of potential new revenue opportunities. To help navigate the key announcements, developments and implications from the show, this report focuses on four key areas of innovation: consumer devices, smart home, digital entertainment and automotive.

Leveraging data from the 2025 survey, conducted between June and August, this report provides relevant insights into how the consumer behaviour is changing across eight topic areas: 5G; devices; eSIM; generative AI; pay TV; gaming; the metaverse and extended reality; and sustainability.