Abstract
Overview
Touting a tremendous growth in mobile broadband, South Korea serves as a de
facto testing ground for analysing the prospects of next generation mobile
devices and services.
The number of mobile subscribers in Korea reached 42 million in May 2007, an
87% penetration of the entire population.
Network-wise, CDMA and WCDMA/HSDPA now coexist, after the nationwide entry of
WCDMA/HSDPA service in March 2007. With WiBro too, there are three different
mobile technologies in service in South Korea.
The number of HSDPA subscribers is rising fast each month, reaching 1.5
million in a mere 4 months since coming on stream in early 2007.
Service-wise, the HSDPA service features the ' See and Enjoy' concept instead
of CDMA' s emphasis on ' Listen and Talk' . It currently provides cheaper video
value-added services, at a faster data rate, with Visual, Internet, Global and
Convenience products. It plans to add ' Full browsing' and PC integrated
service in the near future.
In Q1 2008, HSUPA service is expected to enter the market with a maximum
1.45Mbps data rate and 5.76Mbps in 2009. ' Mobile UGC' production, sharing,
mobile automatic uploads and personal broadcasting are being positioned as
core HSUPA application services.
Both Satellite DMB (SDMB) and Terrestrial DMB (TDMB) currently run in South
Korea. Between them, TDMB takes 82.5% of market share while SDMB has 17.5%.
This report provides a clear overview of the South Korean mobile broadband
market, and takes a glimpse at the mobile TV market and WiBro status. It then
examines the WCDMA/HSDPA and WiBro markets, alongside their available devices.
After reviewing HSDPA services and their tariff plan, it concludes with
perspectives of the future South Korean mobile communication market.
Key questions
- Current status of the South Korean mobile broadband market
- Market impacts of regulation
- How WCDMA/HSDPA is positioned in the CDMA-dominated market
- User targets of HSDPA services
- How HSDPA service impacts data ARPU
- HSDPA tariff plan
- How WIBro service is being positioned
- Role of mobile TV in the mobile market
- Perspectives of mobile related business and technology
Who should read this report?
- Mobile telecom operators and CPs
- Understand how mobile broadband evolves in Korea
- Assess the opportunities that mobile broadband offers
- New opportunities for telecom operators' and CPs'
- business models in the HSDPA market
- Understand the strategic implications for major players affected by
WCDMA/HSDPA
- Take account of the timeline for the HSDPA upgrade and HSUPA service
rollout Manufacturers
- Identify various mobile broadband devices in Korea
- Identify service functions of the HSDPA terminal
- Take account of the timeline for the HSDPA upgrade and HSUPA service
rollout
- Investors and analysts
- Assess the Korean mobile broadband market
- Identify trend of the mobile broadband market and its application market
- Regulators
- Understand Korean regulations impacting the mobile market
- Identify the timeline for the mobile service and its relevant services
rollouts
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