Korea Telecom (KT) has suspended new subscriptions for 3G services.

The carrier will no longer be selling 3G plans to new customers as it pushes ahead with the transition to LTE and 5G services.

KT launched its 3G network in 2003, but in recent years has switched focus to the more modern 4G LTE and 5G networks.

It is following the lead of rival SK Telecom, which halted the sale of new 3G subscriptions over the summer.

In addition to stopping the sale of 3G plans, KT also confirmed it was suspending number porting and device changes (including SIM card changes) for 3G devices and LTE devices that do not support HD Voice.

“We will provide meticulous support to minimize the inconvenience and burden on 3G users and enable them to make choices that suit their specific situations," said Kim Young-geol, SVP and head of the customer business division at KT’s customer sector. “We will continue to advance our networks and improve service quality to provide more stable and convenient telecommunication services.”

The company didn't disclose how many customers are still on 3G plans, though Money Today notes that the carrier has around 68,000, which is 0.5 percent of its total mobile subscriber base.

As of April, Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT said the number of domestic 3G mobile phone lines stood at 346,011, which accounts for 0.6 percent of total mobile lines in the country.