South Korea’s communications regulator today imposed a KRW1.8 billion-won ($1.66 million) fine on the country’s third largest mobile operator LG Uplus for illegal handset subsidies.
The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) also imposed a 10-day suspension on corporate handset sales, Yonhap news agency reported.
In April prosecutors indicted the country’s three mobile operators – SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus – on charges of violating a law banning excessive subsidies to retailers and customers.
This was the first time the operators have faced charges and a trial since a new law, which limits subsidies to KRW300,000 ($258), went into effect in October 2014.
The three have repeatedly fallen foul of subsidy regulations. A year ago SK Telecom and LG Uplus were given seven-day business suspensions by the KCC, which restricted them from signing up new subscribers.
In March 2015 it also imposed fines of KRW1.59 billion on LG Uplus, KRW930 million on SK Telecom and KRW870 million on KT for offering illegal handset discounts.
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