WiBro in Korea Experiences Ambitious Launch but Turbulent Take Off

Despite a sluggish start, WiBro will eventually take off and have a substantial position in the telecom services marketplace, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). In June 2006, South Korea became the first country to launch Mobile WiMAX, or as it was domestically named, Wireless Broadband (WiBro). The distinctive features of WiBro—lower cost of full-scale new network deployment, higher data rates than any existing cellular technologies, and defined QoS for both data and voice applications—are certainly wooing many operators. However, slow service adoption does remind operators to plan carefully, source widely for devices, invest sufficiently for networks, and educate customers with patience.

A recent report by In-Stat found the following:

The lack of network coverage and usable user devices slowed down WiBro adoption from the very beginning of service commencement.

KT will be the key promoter of WiBro services in South Korea.

South Korea WiBro operators and device markers are eyeing international markets, and expect to make good profits by driving global WiMAX market growth.
Recent In-Stat research, WiBro in Korea: Ambitious Launch - Turbulent Take Off (#IN0703568ANT), analyzes the launch of Wireless Broadband (WiBro) in South Korea, where the service was first launched last year. It provides profiles of the major operators and equipment vendors, including analysis of competing service plans and marketing initiatives. It also contains forecasts for the growth of the Korean subscriber base, and equipment shipments and revenues, through 2012.

For more information on this research or to purchase it online, please visit: http://www.instat.com/catalog/apcatalogue.asp?id=238 or contact a sales representative: Eastern North America: Tina Sheltra, 480.609.4531; tina.sheltra@reedbusiness.com Western North America: Erin McKeighan, 480.609.4551; emckeighan@reedbusiness.com Outside of North America: http://www.instat.com/sales.asp

The price is $2,495(US).

This research is part of In-Stat’s Asia Networking/Telecom Service. Asia/Pacific remains a hotbed of opportunity in the communications infrastructure market globally. This service has been developed to identify specific opportunities for infrastructure equipment manufacturers and technology providers in these exciting markets. With great focus on wireless broadband and enterprise VoIP/FMC, this service gives telecom equipment vendors, service providers, and enterprise communications infrastructure manufacturers a by-country analysis of market dynamics and outlooks. Dynamic Asia/Pacific markets, including 13 countries like China, India, Korea, Japan and others, are sized and scoped for different research segments. From the manufacturing perspective, competitors, business models, industry agendas, shipment/deployment of infrastructure equipment and products are analyzed. On the services side, market dynamics, buying behavior, business models, and deployment plans are examined through In-Stat’s syndicated primary end user research.