In 2004, the government introduced 010 as a unified telephone prefix for mobile phones as part of efforts to promote fair competition among mobile carriers. Each mobile operator had given different three-digit prefix numbers to their customers but under the integration policy, all users who sign up for 3G communications were given the new prefix number 010.

The country's largest mobile carrier, SK Telecom Co., and the smallest player, LG Uplus Co., said they plan to scrap the old prefix numbers as their 2G network service will be terminated by June 30, 2021.

The ministry said it plans to make a decision soon to come up with a revised bill to end the 2G service and notify the users of the policy change.

"The ministry is in discussion with the two mobile carriers regarding the notification of the 2G service termination and when to do so," said a ministry official not to be named, adding that the decision is likely to be made sometime next year.

The ministry earlier allowed KT Corp. users with traditional numbers to change to the new prefix numbers for more than one year before suspending the old numbers. (Yonhap)