KT by the Numbers

by Jeff Orr, Editor
Mobile Broadband News

South Korea telecom operator, Korea Telecom (KT), ended a market-defending 2007 while quietly gearing up new service capabilities. KT has its sights set on significant growth for 2008.

2007 highlights:

• Completed 56% of nationwide FTTH coverage. Expanding to 67% this year in preparation for all-IP network infrastructure.
• The pre-IP TV service, MegaTV, has 320,000 subscribers. This will turn into an IPTV service including real-time broadcasting in the second half of 2008 with a goal of 1.5 million subscribers this year. Eighty primary content channels are expected to be developed.
• The WiMAX-based WiBro mobile broadband service passed 100,000 subscribers — reaching only half of what the company expected in its April 2007 re-launch of Seoul. This year the operator will expand WiBro coverage beyond Seoul to include 5 metropolitan cities throughout the nation and 21 cities near Seoul. 400,000 subscribers are expected by December.

Source: Telecoms Korea