WiBro: matter of pride?

KCC pressures manufacturers despite unprofitability

By Cho Mu-hyun

WiBro, the Korean variant of broadband wireless technology WiMAX, has been steadily losing its grip in the market due to massive demand for faster and advanced telecom networks spurred by a rapid rise in the popularity of smartphones.

To meet these current trends, telecom companies and phone manufacturers are investing more to create faster telecom networks and rolling out devices that support the fourth-generation (4G) based long-term evolution (LTE) mobile technology.

Despite this, the nation’s top telecom regulator, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), is apparently obsessed with keeping the unprofitable and outdated WiBro technology.

The top telecom agency recently ordered a continuation of WiBro services to SK Telecom and KT ― the country’s two biggest mobile carriers ― last month, despite pleas by the carriers to allow them to change.

``WiBro does not really yield revenue, and we admit that is has a very bad reputation in Korea,’’ said a SK Telecom representative. ``No specific plans have yet materialized following the decision of the KCC.’’