[Korea.net News, Economy / Industry, October 23 2007] WiBro market could reach 94 trillion won: ETRI

Korea's wireless broadband Internet (WiBro), which was adopted as a global third-generation communications standard last week, will create a market worth 94 trillion won and 75,000 new jobs locally over the next five years, Korea's Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) predicted in a report.

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ETRI pioneered WiBro development in 2002. And Korean Internet service providers -- state-owned KT and privately-owned SKT -- commercialized the service four years later. WiBro started its commercial service in Seoul subway system last April and currently boasts 70,000 subscribers.

Almost all universities in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi-do (Province) are building the infrastructure to become uqibiquitous campuses armed with the high technology.

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The adoption will help boost the profile of WiBro at home and abroad and pave the way for Korea's advance even into the fourth-generation communications market with its own technologies, Korean experts said.

WiBro allows users to rapidly download music and video clips into their mobile devices and make real-time video calls on cell phones. It was initially designed to allow laptop users to access the Internet even while moving in a car or subway.

Currently Korea's KT, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and other smaller companies are unveiling diverse WiBro devices.