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SK Telecom pledges greater support for subcontractors

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Lee Hyung-hee, third from left, SK Telecom’s president of mobile network operations, poses with executives of the telecom firm’s subcontractors during the 2014 Partners Day at the Walker Hill Hotel in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of SK Telecom

By Yoon Sung-won

SK Telecom, the nation’s leading mobile carrier, awarded its well-performing subcontractors and pledged to expand support next year.

The company said it held its 2014 Partners Day at the Walker Hill Hotel in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul, Thursday, and invited its partner companies to talk about achievements, difficulties and further cooperation in the coming years.

“I would like to attribute SK Telecom’s successful mobile services during the last three decades to our hard-working partners,” said Lee Hyung-hee, SK Telecom’s president of mobile network operations, during the event. “We will provide more support to our partners and work to expand mutual cooperation next year.”

The company said it has honored 30 subcontractors that performed well throughout the year in five segments, including network equipment manufacturing, research and development and new growth engine industry. Among the subcontractors, Ace Technology, Mobigen, Vision ID&C and Namyang Telecom won the top awards, it said.

SK Telecom presented the 30 subcontractors with prize money as well as opportunities and subsidies for their executives and employees to visit information and communication technology fairs overseas.

The company said it has organized Partners Day events since 2008 and operated projects to promote mutual partnerships with its subcontractors.

Though an open innovation platform titled “T Open Lab,” the company has conducted an evaluation and commercializing process for its subcontractors’ technology proposals and provided business opportunities for them.

The company also said it has put a total of 570 billion won in subsidies for new growth engine businesses, and provided support for them to receive low-interest loans.