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| KT models promote the firm's launch of an internet service with a maximum speed of 10 gigabits per second. / Courtesy of KT |
By Jun Ji-hye
KT will start offering an internet service with a maximum speed of 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) Thursday, the first among domestic telecom companies, the firm said Wednesday.
The new service, which is 10 times faster than the "Giga internet" with a maximum speed of 1 Gbps, will be offered in major cities nationwide including Seoul, Daegu and Busan, the company said during a media conference held in the capital. The coverage will expand gradually nationwide, it added.
The new service is expected to be well received by users who enjoy watching videos as it allows users to download a 33-gigabyte UHD movie in just 30 seconds, compared to 45 minutes when using an internet service with a maximum speed of 100 megabits per second, and 4 minutes and 30 seconds on the Giga internet.
The mobile carrier commercialized the Giga internet in October 2014 for the first time in Korea. About 4.8 million people, accounting for 55 percent of the firm's total subscribers, are currently using the Giga internet.
"We have made preparations as there has been demand from users for better services," said Lee Pill-jai, senior executive vice president who heads the marketing group for KT. "We are launching the 10 Gbps internet service for customers who want to enjoy more realistic videos, faster speed and more exciting content."
The company said the 10 Gbps internet service will offer users the opportunity to better enjoy augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) content.
The service will also promote the emergence of various services based on the internet of things and cloud computing as it allows users to exchange vast amounts of data at a higher speed.
The company explained the 10 Gbps internet service will also serve as the foundation for offering stable services on its fifth-generation (5G) wireless network.
To begin the new service, the company has carried out trial services in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Pyeongchang in Gangwon Province since 2016.
The 10 Gbps internet service will be offered at a monthly fee of 110,000 won ($97), while service with a maximum speed of 5 Gbps will be provided for an 82,500 won monthly subscription fee.
The firm added that it will invest 9.6 trillion won in wired and wireless networks from 2019 to 2023.
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