South Korea has one of the world’s most active
telecommunications and Information Technology markets backed by strong support
from the government. Spending on ICT and high-technology equipment helped lead
a transformation of the economy to one that is more progressively knowledge
based. Having invested significantly in ‘basic’ telecommunications
infrastructure over past decades, the country has well developed submarine
cable and satellite infrastructure as well as solid internet resources to support
the growing demand for national and international communications. The
government aims to transform the country into a knowledge-based information
society in a ‘smart-age’.
The South Korean Government
committed to transitioning the country to digital terrestrial, digital cable
and digital satellite TV broadcasting by 2012. The pressure created by
convergence had South Korea rewrite its regulatory arrangements for the
broadcasting and communications sector. The operators continue to invest
heavily in fibre based broadband deployments and IPTV subscriptions have passed
the 6 million mark as more content is available and the operators are able to
compete more effectively with their own live broadcasts.
South Korea continues to be a
booming mobile market as it innovatively explores the options for value-added
services. The market passed the 110% penetration rate mark into 2013 with many
individuals carrying at least one mobile phone. Having launched 3G networks in
2003, these accounted for over 75% of all subscriptions. New investments are
intended to drive revenue and gain market share and the year has seen strong
growth in LTE after launching in 2011 and a rapid increase in smartphone
adoption.
South Korea has the world’s highest
number of broadband services per capita. Into 2013 over 37% of the population
and 90% of households were broadband subscribers. FttX accounted for over 60%
of total subscriptions. Since 2006, Korea’s policy emphasis has been on
completing a BcN with wireline speeds of 50-100Mb/s per household and 1-2Mb/s
on wireless connections. The plan moving forward is for a UBcN (Ultra Broadband
convergence Network) with 1Gb/s speeds on fixed lines or 10Mb/s on wireless by
2012/13. In addition to upgrades to the backbone network a plan was established
to link the public sector to a sensor network in 2012.
The drive towards a ‘new economy’
has seen significant investments in Smart Infrastructure including Cloud
Computing, Smart Grids and Smart Cities. The emergence of a National Strategy
for Green IT has seen government promotion of new industry creation into 2018
such as 4G broadcasts and 3D and Smart television.
A detailed report that covers trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile,
internet, broadband, digital TV and IPTV in south korea can be purchased at: "South Korea - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts" Subjects include:
ü Market and industry analyses,
trends and developments;
ü Facts, figures and statistics;
ü Industry and regulatory issues;
ü Infrastructure;
ü Major players, revenues,
subscribers, ARPU;
ü Internet, VoIP, IPTV;
ü Mobile voice and data markets;
ü Broadband (FttH, DSL, cable TV,
WiBro);
ü Convergence and digital media;
ü Smart Grids and Smart cities;
ü Forecasts to 2017 in fixed-line,
mobile, internet and broadband subscribers.
