South Korea plans to invest KRW1.6 trillion ($1.49 billion) by 2020 with local operators and vendors to build 5G networks, reported Yonhap News.

Talks have gone on since last May with the country’s three largest mobile operators  – KT, SK Telecom and LG Uplus – as well as vendors including Samsung and LG, according to the country’s communications technology ministry.

The move has been dubbed “Creative 5G Mobile Strategy.”

The type of 5G services envisaged by the ministry include ultra high-definition TV (Ultra-HD), hologram transmission and advanced versions of social networking.

The South Korean government also wants to promote 5G standards internationally, as well as head off potential patent battles, by working with the US, China and Europe.

The first 5G test will be for social networking and will start by 2015. The test will gradually expand to include mobile 3D and cloud services in 2017, which will be offered at the speed of 1 Gb/s. The 5G network will debut full service in 2020.

Samsung has already set out its stall in 5G. Other vendors positioning themselves for leadership in the technology include Huawei.

The European Commission recently unveiled a 5G effort of its own. The public-private partnership has earmarked €700 million from the commission with the same amount committed by companies in support of 5G.