North Korea has recently begun importing second-hand telecommunications devices from China to replace existing base transceiver station equipment in several major cities, Daily NK has learned.
Speaking on condition of anonymity due to security reasons, a Daily NK source in North Korea said Monday that “starting in early October, the authorities started to gradually replace the telecoms and retransmission equipment in base transceiver stations with imported equipment from China. The move is part of efforts to meet the Eighth Party Congress’s call to innovate the communications sector by replacing the equipment in base transceiver stations with cutting-edge technology.”
According to the source, the telecom equipment replacement projects are being conducted with the cooperation of regional trade agencies and the communication sector after being long-delayed due to North Korea’s border closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to equipment to update the country’s existing 3G networks, North Korea is mostly importing telecommunications equipment to establish a 4G network. The authorities are primarily purchasing cheap second-hand Huawei devices.
North Korea currently has a 3G network in place, but appears to be importing equipment with a view to launch a 4G network. Broadly speaking, the newly imported equipment will be used to improve the speed and quality of the 3G network and prepare the way for 4G-based services, according to the source.
“The list of devices imported from China included everything you would need to set up a wireless cell service capable of connecting cell phones to the country’s intranet. North Korea is gradually replacing the repeaters, remote monitors, radio transmission and reception amplifiers, radio signal processing controls at the base transceiver stations, starting in the major cities of Pyongang, Nampo, Pyongsong, Sariwon, Wonsan, and Hamhung.“
Meanwhile, the authorities are implementing plans to ensure that North Koreans themselves can manage and operate the newly imported Chinese telecommunications equipment, the source said.
“The authorities have been dispatching technicians to the base transceiver stations to help with equipment replacement, provide technological assistance, and to computerize the operations management systems.”
Translated by Matthew Eteuati, Jr. Edited by Robert Lauler.
Daily NK works with a network of sources who live inside North Korea, China and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous due to security concerns. More information about Daily NK’s reporting partner network and information gathering activities can be found on our FAQ page here.
Please direct any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.
