 With more and more people using portable Internet devices such as laptop computers and smartphones, there are increasing calls for cheaper and free mobile Internet connectivity in public areas. / Korea Times |
By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter
Ahead of the upcoming June 2 local elections, politicians are competing to come up with a set of pledges offering wider and cheaper mobile Internet connections, in particular to Seoulites.
Leading the bandwagon is Roh Hoi-chan, a Seoul mayor hopeful from the minor opposition New Progressive Party (NPP). The former lawmaker promises to set up a free and fast mobile Internet network throughout the capital.
``Based on routers installed in public transportation, Seoul citizens will be able to enjoy Internet connections while on the move. If I am elected mayor, I will wrap up the plan within 100 days after inauguration,'' Roh said at a press conference late last week.
Roh's scheme is to embed Wi-Fi routers in 7,598 buses and 3,508 subway trains in Seoul to make the city a mobile heaven where people can link to the Web on public transportation on top of previous hot-spot zones at parks, libraries, cafes and public offices.
Although he is an underdog in the election, Roh is well known as a tech-savvy politician here ― he boasts of tens of thousands of followers on Twitter.
Other parties have yet to finalize their candidates for Seoul major but they also have plans to boost wireless Internet in the mega city where more than 10 million citizens reside.
The main opposition Democratic Party plans to make free wireless connections available through huge hot spot areas in Seoul, while the governing Grand National Party wants to reduce rates for the mobile Internet.
The idea of building a ``mobile heaven'' is supported by the government, which aims to channel more than half a billion dollars into mobile infrastructure and research through 2014.
``To become a genuine mobile powerhouse, we will seek to channel 760 billion won ($671.1 million) over the next five years together with private entities,'' Ministry of Knowledge Economy Director General Jeong Marn-ki said Friday.
But telecom companies, which provide fee-based mobile Internet services in Seoul, seem to be unhappy with the proposals.
``Many other foreign cities already tried out the idea of building up a free mobile Web zone to little avail. They ended up wasting a lot of taxpayers' money,'' said an official at a domestic telecom operator, who asked not to be named.
``After building the network with a huge investment, you have to spend as much money to maintain and upgrade it. Typically, you cannot afford that on just taxes without involving commercial schemes.''
Civic groups point out that both the public and private sectors can join forces to bring about the go-anywhere connectivity free of charge.
``The demand for the mobile Web is rising continually while the supply based on traditional spectrums is limited. Accordingly, we have no choice but to boost such technology as Wi-Fi down the road,'' Green Consumers Network representative Chung Eung-hwi said.
``If we are able to create a business model of making money without charging end users, say via commercials, the free mobile Internet would be attained in Seoul.''
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