Synopsis
South Korea continues to be a booming mobile market as it innovatively explores the options for value-added services. The market passed the 105% penetration rate mark in 2011 with many individuals carrying at least one mobile phone. Having launched 3G networks in 2003, these account for over 80% of all subscriptions. By mid-2011 all three mobile licensees had merged entities or operations and had in effect become full-service operators. The introduction of converged services across the fixed-line, mobile and broadband infrastructure has resulted in more attractive bundled pricing for consumers.LTE was launched in mid 2011. This report provides an overview of the dynamic mobile market in South Korea including a breakdown of the mobile technologies available and associated statistics down to operator level. It also explores mobile data services and a range of mobile applications including mobile TV together with the mobile handset market. Mobile forecasts are included up to 2016.
Key Developments:
Mobile penetration over 105% and ARPU of US$30; launch of LTE and testing of LTE-Advanced; potential introduction of a fourth mobile licensee and the introduction of MVNOs in 2011; smartphone adoption rising to over 10 million subscribers; KT’s end of exclusivity with the iPhone; an 11-fold jump in mobile data traffic over a one year period; Wi-Fi traffic accounting for a third of all mobile traffic; drive for NFC chips in smartphones; increased adoption of mobile banking; applications by the three mobile operators for re-assignment of 2G frequency bands that expired.
Companies covered in this report include:
KT; LG U+; SK Telecom;
