OECDIT KT Leading Wireless Internet Era
This year Sprint-Nextel and other telecom companies in the United States are working to cover several big cities with mobile WiMax, the emerging high-speed wireless Internet technology. They are investing in a venture with Clearwire to build a network that, they hope, will reach 30.8 million subscriber accounts and offer coverage to as many as 220 million people by 2017 ― that will form the largest seamless coverage of wireless Internet.
There were debates over whether the WiMax technology is technologically and commercially viable. The notion that people can use the high-speed Internet while in a fast-moving cars or trains sounded fatuous to many. But evidence of its power and affordability is shown in South Korea, where KT, the country's largest telephone and broadband Internet company, is successfully operating the service under the brand name of WiBro (Wireless Broadband).
As the world's first wireless broadband service, WiBro enables mobile access even in cars, trains and subways. In Seoul, it is even possible to watch high-quality TV on your PC when inside the tunnels trespassing Mt. Namsan thanks to the relays inside.
KT has been building the network to cover major cities in South Korea, especially in Seoul and its satellite cities and highways that connect them. The firm hopes to eventually cover the whole country, with a seamless WiBro network. The technology also provides the U-Campus service at the several college campuses including Seoul Nation University and KonKuk University.
About 200,000 subscribers in Korea are enjoying WiBro as of May, and KT is aiming for 400,000 subscribers by December. The firm hopes that the introduction of discount plans for multiple subscriptions for telephones, mobile phones and home Internet services will be a big attraction to customers.
The already superb quality of the KT WiBro network is expected to greatly improve this year when more innovative technologies are deployed.
The so-called ``Wave 2'' transmitters to be used to upgrade the system will simultaneously use multiple transmission antennas. And ``smart'' antennas will automatically focus radio waves in the direction of where data traffic is heaviest, engineers refer to this system as a ``sunflower antenna.''
The Wave 2 service will enable users to download a 700-megabite movie file in about 120 seconds. But the price will remain same at 19,800 won ($20) per month, with the USB plug-in modem offered free of charge.
KT is studying how to utilize this network system. Its engineers have been working together with Gyeonggi Province for the use of WiBro in the public sector. The local government of Gyeonggi is to use WiBro for conventions and tourism events to be held in the province. More importantly, officials are considering utilizing the system in fighting crime and fire by issuing WiBro devices to policemen and firemen and monitoring them from a control tower.
Households in remote regions will also benefit from the wireless technology, they say.
``Gyeonggi is a large province and there are regions easily excluded from traditional telecommunication networks,'' said Kim Moon-soo, its governor. ``We hope that every corner of Gyeonggi can benefit from this telecom service as soon as possible.''