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Suk Ho-ick, vice chairman of KT, answers journalists’ questions about its plan to introduce a ``smart working system,’’ during a press conference held at the company’s headquarters, downtown Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of KT
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By Kim Yoo-chul
KT is planning to strengthen its partnership with U.K.-based British Telecom (BT) to boost “telework” ― a smart working system market ― a senior executive said, Monday.
``KT will conduct a pilot program involving 20 workers through one of our `smart working centers’ from September,’’ said Suk Ho-ick, a vice chairman at KT, in a news conference held in its headquarters, downtown Seoul.
The executive said KT is planning to run 30 such centers by the end of 2012, including nine in Seoul metropolitan areas.
It plans to open the first the center at its branch in Bundang, on the outskirts of Seoul.
Teleworking allows employees to work through information telecommunication technologies (ICT) irrespective of their locations.
The innovative working solution is already getting more attention from technology companies in the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan.
KT said 87 percent of BT’s total 92,000 workers are using the system in one form or another since the British company has introduced it in 1993 and working efficiency of the telecommuters is between 20 and 60 percent higher compared to workers in offices.
``BT has saved labor costs and cut carbon emissions by a sizable amount. We expect some $280 million to be saved, if 3.5 million use the system,’’ the executive said.
Suk said KT will pay utility bills for its workers working with telecommuting systems and apply uniform standards in evaluating personal performance and in determining wages.
KT plans to build the total solution system by combining its fixed-line, WCDMA, Wi-Fi and WiBro networks.
``That will be our next growth engine. KT will give free consulting services to small and medium sized enterprises. We will help them achieve faster penetration of such telecommuting systems,’’ Suk said.
KT is aiming to secure at least 1.15 million customers in using the novel system by 2015 or 50 percent of the estimated total number of 2.3 million telework users.
Cost problem
The vice chairman also called on the government to give tax incentives for users.
``The biggest drawback is high initial expenditure. If the cost falls because of the introduction of cloud computing systems, then the cost will be reduced,’’ said the executive.
The vice chairman declined to unveil its internal sales target from smart working services. ``We will announce more detailed plans towards the new paths.’’
When contacted by the Korea Times, a spokesman for the nation’s top telecom regulator declined to comment.
KT also plans to increase the number of subscribers gradually in the future.
Korea has just below 1 percent of the working population using telecommuting systems as its corporate culture cherishes ``face-to-face meetings’’ and many companies fear potential security woes.
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yistory@koreatimes.co.kr
