Now Available: South Korea Telecommunications Report Q4 2014

South Korea is one of the most advanced markets in the world and is the first nation to have launched LTE-advanced services commercially. Only SK Telecom is still offering 2G services in the market and we expect 2G to be completely phased out by 2015. The key mobile growth driver is expected to be the migration of customers from 3G to 4G, although we see some downside risk to the pace of this transition after the handset distribution law takes effect from October 2014.

Key Data

* The mobile market has continued to expand, even with penetration above 119% by 2013. Total subscriptions reached 55.982mn in Q114.
* The fixed-line market is still expanding, mostly due to the growth of VoIP, but it is slowing noticeably. Growth in the broadband market has slowed due to a combination of high penetration rates for wireline services and competition from LTE services.

Full Report Details at
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Key Developments

Following the auction of the 1,800MHz spectrum for the use of LTE services, all three operators announced planned extensions of their respective services. KT announced it would be implementing LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) in Seoul and the surrounding regions from September 2013, and throughout most major cities by March 2014. KT is trailing its rivals, with SK Telecom having launched LTE-A services for smartphones in July 2013. Finally, LG U+ launched its LTE-Advanced network in July 2013 in Seoul, as well as in other major cities.

South Korea's telecoms market could receive an injection of foreign investment following the decision by the government to lift the foreign ownership cap on the telecoms sector in the country. However, the raised cap will not apply to the nation's three incumbent mobile operators, leaving doubts over whether investors will see potential in a mature market where they cannot invest in the dominant providers. Foreign investors would be required to set up an investment vehicle in South Korea to own a stake in the telecoms firm.

In April 2014, regulator KCC...

The South Korea Telecommunications Report features Business Monitor International (BMI)'s independent industry forecasts on the future strength of South Korea's ICT market, covering the fixed-line, mobile and internet segments and analyses latest regulatory developments and corporate news, including investment activity, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships. Leading operators and manufacturers are fully profiled, highlighting their quarterly financial performance, capital expenditure plans and latest contracts.

BMI's South Korea Telecommunications Report provides industry professionals and researchers, operators, equipment suppliers and vendors, corporate and financial services analysts and regulatory bodies with independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on the telecoms industry in South Korea.

Key Benefits

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