switching

Jan. 12 (Asia Today) — SK Telecom has been the main beneficiary of KT’s decision to waive early termination fees, drawing most of the more than 210,000 subscribers who switched away from KT over the past 10 days, industry data showed Monday.

Data from the Korea Telecommunications Operators Association showed 216,203 KT users ported their numbers to other carriers or mobile virtual network operators between Dec. 31 and Saturday. Departures topped 100,000 within a week of the fee waiver taking effect, then daily switching exceeded 30,000 on Saturday, when 33,305 users left, the data showed.

SK Telecom drew about 160,000 of those switchers, or 74.2% of the total, according to the data. That implies an average inflow of more than 20,000 KT users a day during the period.

The surge has boosted competition in number portability, with carriers increasing promotions and handset subsidies. SK Telecom also offered benefits such as restoring customer tenure for returning subscribers whose accounts were canceled between April 19 and July 14, 2025, the report said.

SK Telecom has sought to rebuild subscriber counts after a large outflow last year tied to a SIM-related hacking incident. The company posted a net loss of about 730,000 mobile subscribers in 2025, while KT and LG Uplus logged net gains of about 240,000 and 260,000, respectively, the report said.

The report said SK Telecom’s third-quarter wireless revenue fell 20.5% from a year earlier to 2.124 trillion won ($1.45 billion), amid compensation and customer retention costs.

The subscriber losses also pushed SK Telecom below the 40% mobile market share level it had held for about a decade. The report cited government data showing SK Telecom had 22,405,714 mobile subscribers in October 2025, representing a 38.8% share.

Industry officials said SK Telecom is expected to secure about 200,000 to 210,000 KT switchers by Tuesday, the deadline for the fee waiver. Analysts said that would likely lift SK Telecom toward 39%, but more gains would be needed to regain 40% quickly.

Based on an industry estimate of about 57.6 million total mobile subscribers, a 40% share would amount to about 23 million subscribers, the report said.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

The 2026 high school football transfer tracker is officially launched to identify top players switching schools in Southern California.

There were more than 17,000 transfers statewide last school year, and football is the sport that consistently has more than any.

According to CIF rules, players who transfer and physically move along with their family are eligible immediately to play at the new school. If a player transfers and his family doesn’t move, there’s a sit-out period of close to 50% of the season. The date athletes become eligible in the fall after sitting out is Sept. 28, 2026, for the Southern Section and Sept. 24, 2026, for the City Section.

Listed players are confirmed as having switched schools through social media or from coaches, parents or players. Their transfer eligibility remains uncertain until paperwork is submitted to the Southern Section or City Section. Names will be updated each week, with the latest at the top. Students have been known to change their minds, too, before the season begins.

Jaden Jefferson

Previous school: Cathedral

New school: Corona Centennial

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: He’s a small but dynamic quarterback with tremendous ability to pass and run. He has been a starter since freshman year.

Quentin Hale

Previous school: Cathedral

New school: Corona Centennial

Position: Receiver

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Had 62 receptions and 12 touchdown catches in 2025.

Simote Tupou

Previous school: Henderson (Nev.) Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon

New school: St. John Bosco

Position: Defensive line

Year in the fall of 2026: Junior

Buzz: Had 19 sacks as a 6-1, 230-pound sophomore.

Koa Smith-Mayall

Previous school: JSerra

New school: Santa Margarita

Position: Quarterback

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Was briefly JSerra’s starting QB and overcame injuries early in high school.

Cruz Nunez

Previous school: JSerra

New school: Santa Margarita

Position: Linebacker

Year in the fall of 2026: Senior

Buzz: Had 15 solo tackles as a junior.