North Korea has recently begun the process of upgrading its mobile network to 4G by using secondhand equipment primarily sourced from Huawei, according to a report by local news site Daily NK. 

The upgrade initiative is said to have begun in October which involves overhauling the existing 3G network infrastructure and setting the foundation for 4G services. 

Major cities like Pyongyang, Nampo, Pyongsong, Sariwon, Wonsan, and Hamhung have seen the first wave of this upgrade. The improvements include the installation of 4G repeaters, remote monitors, and amplifiers for radio transmission and reception, as well as updated signal processing controls at base transceiver stations.

Daily NK also reports that the construction of 4G cell towers is already underway in several regions. The goal is to complete over 80% of the planned cell towers by 2025. Currently, 4G services are said to be mainly available in the central districts of Pyongyang.

An unnamed source told Daily NK “People who have subscribed to the new network say the signal is really good, with no interruptions when browsing the intranet or watching shows.” 

However, the source added that there are limitations as the signal weakens significantly when users are far from the base stations. This reportedly has led to some reluctance among North Koreans to switch to 4G, as mobile devices in the country do not automatically revert to 3G in areas with poor 4G reception.

Out of North Korea’s population of 26.2 million, only about 28.3% have a phone connection. The country’s approach to cellular technology has historically lagged behind the global trend, often adopting older generations of technology. 

They entered the 2G era in 2002, long after the global 3G wave, and followed a similar pattern with 3G. Industry observers suspect 4G and 5G will follow the same suit.

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