Mobile Phone Users in North Korea Increasing
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
The number of people using a mobile phone service provided by Egypt-based mobile operator Orascom Telecom in North Korea is increasing, according to a report on Wednesday.
Since the company began the service on Dec. 15 last year, 48,000 North Koreans subscribed to the service as of late June, the Voice of America reported.
The Egyptian group is the first foreign firm to be granted a license to provide mobile service in North Korea.
The operator plans to expand its service area from Pyongyang to other areas this year, the report said.
The company also said it will soon begin the High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) service at the request of foreigners who want to use wireless Internet in North Korea.
It currently has 114 base stations and one mobile phone exchange office in the communist state.