Aiming to increase convenience for foreign visitors, South Korea’s leading mobile carrier KT has been offering rental services for smartphones and portable batteries.

Among those is KT’s Wi-Fi router rental service for foreign visitors who want unlimited access to Wi-Fi networks during their stay.

Travelers who visit the nation can pick up a Wi-Fi router, also called a Wi-Fi egg, from any of the olleh Roaming Centers at the airports in Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae and Jeju, as well as Busan Port. The eggs can be dropped off on the customers’ way home.

Customers of the rental service can have access to the Wi-Fi connections with a daily rental fee of 3,000 won ($2.70) for a Wi-Fi egg and a daily service fee of 5,000 won.

In a promotional event to be held through the end of this year, customers are exempt from paying the rental fee if they book the Wi-Fi router on KT’s website.

KT’s service allows up to seven devices, including phones and laptops, to be connected to the Wi-Fi egg, which converts Long-Term Evolution and Wibro into Wi-Fi signals, reducing the burden of customers concerned about expensive data roaming fees.

“More foreign visitors are coming over to the nation every year and they often have difficulty using roaming services due mainly to expensive fees,” said a KT official. “KT’s rental service will enable travelers to enjoy fast Internet at affordable prices.”

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)