SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea launched its long-awaited commercial mobile WiMax service Friday (June 30), the Ministry of Information and Communication said.
Known as WiBro, the mobile broadband Internet service originated through technology from broadband Internet service carrier KT Corp. and mobile telecommunications network provider SK Telecom Co. Ltd.
KT and SK Telecom said they launched WiBro, based on Intel Corp.'s WiMax standard, at several high-demand areas in and around Seoul. Both companies plan to expand coverage throughout Seoul and surrounding cities by the end of this year, and nationwide by 2008.
KT had conducted trial WiBro services in selected areas in and around Seoul since March. It first showcased a test run of the technology at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Busan, South Korea last November.
According to KT, users could enjoy wireless connection into Internet while on the move at speeds as high as 120 km (74 miles) per hour.
The base service stations have a coverage radius of 1 km, while existing hotspots for public wireless LAN services reach 50 meters, according to the service providers.
Presently, subscribers can access the WiBro service only by using a PCMCIA card provided by Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. The card is priced at 300,000 won ($312). KT said WiBro-enabled portable devices, including notebooks, PDAs and dual-mode terminals combining WiBro and other advanced wireless communication services will soon be commercially available.
KT and SK Telecom initially charge subscribers of the basic service fees at 16,000 won (US16.6) and 30,000 won per month, respectively. They said they will soon introduce a series of differentiated pricing systems for subscribers, depending on the volume or type of data transactions.
Both carriers are set to provide subsidies of up to 100,000 won ($105) each to subscribers purchasing WiBro-enabled handsets. The government has allowed the subsidies in an apparent bid to promote the technology as one of the main projects to bolster the nation's information technology sector.
As part of the effort, KT has set up an international community of 21 overseas telecommunications operators to build a global "roaming belt" for the service.
RSS
Digital
10 emerging technologies to watch:
EE Times has compiled a list of emerging technologies that we think will be worth watching out for in 2010. Biofeedback or thought-control of electronics are among the contenders.
Hot applications in 2010:
We've compiled a list of 10 technology applications you should watch for in 2010, ranging from e-book readers to 3-D TVs. We examine the features that make these apps so compelling as well unresolved issues.
Top 25 predictions for semis in 2010:
2010 is just beginning to unfold in the electronics industry. Looking into our crystal ball, we have released our own chip forecasts--and other predictions--for 2010.
Seven things to fix in 2010:
The editors of EE Times came up with their own informal list of things we hope engineers fix in 2010, spanning everything from nano-lithography to space travel. What do you want to see get done this year?
'09 moves that are shaping the future:
This was a brutal year, but the industry gets a nod for showing grace under fire. Here's our Top 10 guide to the coming year, illustrating what to expect in 2010.
10 CEOs out in 2009:
It's been a tough year for the global electronics industry and CEOs. We survey the dismissal of 10 industry CEOs during the first three quarters of 2009 and what's ahead for the rest of the year.
Notable women in microelectronics:
There is no better time than a global economic recession to examine the keys to successful corporate governance. So, EE Times has compiled an international list that celebrates women who are business and technology leaders in semis.
EE Times updates Silicon 60:
Seventeen companies have been added to the lastest version of our Silicon 60 list of emerging startups. Forty-three companies survived as emerging companies that are still worth watching.
RSS| 
Digital| 
Mobile
