IPTV subscribers top record 6 mil. in Korea

The number of subscribers for Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) services in South Korea has broken a record 6 million milestone as more people are opting to pay for the digital media service, data showed Thursday.

The data comes roughly four years after IPTV services were first commercialized in January 2009, according to the data compiled by the Korea Digital Media Industry Association. Currently, South Korea's three top mobile carriers - SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp.- provide the service.

The number of local IPTV subscribers has been accelerating recently as mobile carriers stepped up efforts to diversify their IPTV services, with the figure hitting 5 million in April this year.

The association projected the country's IPTV subscriber base to hit the 7 million mark in the first half of next year if growth continues at the current rate.

Meanwhile, the growth in IPTV subscriber base marks a faster increase than that of cable TV subscribers. It took the cable TV industry more than seven years to secure 6 million subscribers. (Yonhap)