A brief introduction to North Korean mobile phones
Mobile phones on display in North Korea.
North Korean mobile phones come in a variety of forms, such as the folding model, sliding model and touch model. The folding and sliding models are sold in North Korea, but most of the touch model phones have been brought into the country by North Koreans traveling abroad for business.
Even South Korean brands such as Samsung and LG can be seen on the streets of Pyongyang, but the majority of mobile phones remain Chinese brands such as Huawei or ZTE. The Apple iPhone has yet to infiltrate the North Korean market.
The purchase price of the handset includes the registration fee. North Korean mobile phones can be bought and registered for around US$200. The chips are of the pay-as-you-go type, and the minimum spend is 3000 North Korean won.
There is a free monthly allowance of 200 minutes and 20 texts. Top-ups come at 4.2 cents per minute or US$8.4 for 200 minutes. Those who don’t need so many minutes can pay 3000 North Korean won without purchasing extra minutes.
For many North Koreans, US$200 dollars is a big investment so some hesitate to make the initial purchase. At the time of writing, the number of mobile phone registrants is around 800,000. Nevertheless, there are always around 300,000 more users in actual number.
This is because there are “special registrants” who the North Korean authorities do not allow Orascom to administrate. As a condition for Orascom being granted a license for North Korean mobile communications, an exclusive and separate system was established. This network is controlled not by Orascom, but by the DPRK.
This network is used by Central Party members as well as other military and government officials.
The first digits of the special registrants’ numbers are different. Ordinary Orascom numbers begin with 191(193)-2xx-xxxx, while special registrants’ numbers begin with 195-xxx-xxxx. In addition, special registrants receive 300 free minutes and 30 free texts. Moreover, Central Party officials receive an extra 100 minutes per minimum purchase.
The privileges do not end there. Ordinary North Koreans have to pay US$8.4 for a 200 minute top-up, but officials only need to pay 840 North Korean won. According to the current exchange rates, this is merely a token charge.
A North Korean woman in traditional dress peers into her mobile phone.
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