Mobile High-Speed Internet Available on the Move on Highways

KT has built its nationwide 4-G WiBro network

KT customers are now able to enjoy mobile high-speed internet while on the move along the nation’s seven expressways, including the Gyeongbu (Seoul-Busan) Line, where the telecom provider has built its WiBro network.
They will also be able to receive mobile WiBro internet services at cheaper prices while traveling via mass transportation means like subways, trains and buses in the Seoul metropolitan area.
WiBRo is three times faster than existing 3-G WCDMA networks and it takes only nine seconds to download a movie via the technology while on the move.
KT held a news conference at the KT headquarters in Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul, on March 2 and announced the commercial launch of the 4-G WiBro services via its WiBro network built in 82 cities, including the Seoul metropolitan area and along seven expressways.
Pyo Hyun-myung, president in charge of non-corporate customer at KT Corp., said, “The nationwide wireless WiBro network is the first such one to provide high-speed wireless internet access without interruptions on the move.”
Customers can use notebook PCs by attaching a USB or “egg” that catches WiBro signals. Monthly fees range from 10,000 won for 1GB to 40,000 won for unlimited use.
On the day of the launch, KT unveiled the Galaxy Tab WiBro combining the tablet PC and WiBro. The Galaxy Tab WiBro has a built-in egg that can connect five mobile gadgets, such as smartphones and netbooks. The tablet PC “HTC Express,” offering WiBro, Wi-Fi and 3-G services, and Samsung Electronics’ “Sliding PC” and notebook PC using KT’s WiBro network, will be released starting in the first half of the year.
KT plans to make WiBro services available from subways in the Seoul metropolitan area, 1,500 buses operating on 67 bus routes and on trains from early April. The nation’s second largest telecom operator plans to expand WiFi services by raising the number of WiFi hotspots to 100,000 around the country as well as to build the “CCTV WiFi” zones using the CCTV network in such crowded areas as the downtown Myeongdong and Gangnam districts.
President Pyo said the launch of i-Phones has greatly boosted data traffic volumes, causing an overload, and KT’s clients can use mobile internet services without interruptions by adding the latest mobile technology Long Term Evolution (LTE) to the conventional WCDMA, WiFi and WiBro.
“Now customers can use high-speed wireless internet service at a far better speed... without interruption, even when they are travelling on the road,” KT said.
KT said the WiBro network can reach about 85 percent of the nation’s almost 50 million people, higher than the 36 percent in the United States and 70 percent in Japan. nw

Pyo Hyun-myung, president in charge of non-corporate customer service at KT Corp., unveils the Galaxy Tab Wibro combining the tablet PC and WiBro on March 2.

WiFi in All Subway Lines in Seoul by May

KT speeds up the installation of public “eggs” in subways and buses

KT Corp. is accelerating its bid to make mobile high-speed internet available while traveling on the Seoul subway.
Pyo Hyun-myung, president in charge of non-corporate customer service at KT Corp., toured the Seoul Metro Gunja Depot in Seoul on March 21 to inspect KT’s installation of public WiFi eggs into subway cars.
He told crews that enjoying mobile high-speed internet freely while riding on subways is unprecedented in the world and he urged the crews to do their best in installing the equipment so that the world’s best WiFi network can be built.
KT is also installing public eggs into buses so that customers can use WiFi free of charge there as well. nw

Pyo Hyun-myung, president in charge of non-corporate customer service at KT, inspects the installation of public WiFi eggs for mobile high-speed internet services at a Seoul subway depot on March 21.