South Korea - Regulatory Environment

Synopsis

The South Korean government has adopted a very progressive approach to deregulation, liberalisation and privatisation of the nation’s telecommunications industry. The result has been willingness on the part of operators to invest in infrastructure and to be innovative, providing the basis for a booming telecoms market. This report looks at the role the government plays in regulating the telecommunications sector, including yearly highlights from 2003 to 2008, such as the implementation of Mobile Number Portability, the granting of WiBro wireless Internet licences and the regulatory debate over IPTV.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Regulatory environment
  • 2.1 Overview
  • 2.2 Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC)
  • 2.3 National Internet Development Agency of Korea (NIDA)
  • 2.4 Korea Communications Commission (KCC)
  • 2.5 National Computerisation Agency (NCA)
  • 2.6 Korea Broadcasting Commission (KBC)
    • 2.6.1 Mandatory carriage rules for public broadcasting
  • 2.7 Master plans for an information society
    • 2.7.1 e-Korea Vision 2006
    • 2.7.2 Broadband Korea IT Vision 2007
  • 2.8 Deregulation
  • 2.9 Privatisation of Korea Telecom (KT)
  • 2.10 Licensing
  • 2.11 Ownership rules
  • 2.12 Number portability (NP)
    • 2.12.1 Number portability for fixed-line services
    • 2.12.2 Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
• 3. Policy Overview
  • 3.1 Rural access
• 4. Highlights
  • 4.1 Highlights – Year 2008
    • 4.1.1 IPTV
    • 4.1.2 Fines
    • 4.1.3 Approved SKT deal
    • 4.1.4 Samsung probe
  • 4.2 Highlights – Year 2007
    • 4.2.1 IPTV
    • 4.2.2 Qualcomm investigation
    • 4.2.3 Regulator’s fines on operators
    • 4.2.4 Tariffs and bundling
    • 4.2.5 Security: Internet ‘real name’ system
    • 4.2.6 Internet code of conduct
    • 4.2.7 Internet portal operators
    • 4.2.8 Antitrust Violation
    • 4.2.9 Samsung bribery probe
  • 4.3 Highlights – Year 2006
    • 4.3.1 M-1 Project
    • 4.3.2 U-City Project
    • 4.3.3 MIC report on IT trends
    • 4.3.4 Support for digital content providers
    • 4.3.5 Digital broadcasting task force
    • 4.3.6 Online identity theft
    • 4.3.7 Regulator investigates Qualcomm
    • 4.3.8 Microsoft fined by FTC
    • 4.3.9 Regional agreements on 4G
    • 4.3.10 Mobile operators fined for illegally subsidising handsets
  • 4.4 Highlights – Year 2005
    • 4.4.1 The regulatory debate over IPTV
  • 4.5 Highlights – Year 2004
  • 4.6 Highlights – Year 2003
• 5. Related reports