[Iclickart]
SK Telecom, South Korea's largest mobile carrier, has opened about 60,000 wireless accessing points (WAP) free of charge that allows mobile device users to connect to the Wi-Fi wireless internet.
South Korea has one of the world's most advanced wireless networks with about 400,000 WAPs installed. Previously, the top three mobile carriers -- SK Telecom, KT and LG U+ -- provided free Wi-Fi connections for their own users only, but LG U+ opened up 79,140 WAPs for other carrier users for free in 2012.
SK's bold move can be read as a cooperative action to boost the government's policy to increase the number of open WAPs at public places such as subway stations and schools to reduce household expenses spent on using wireless data.
The science ministry has installed WAPs since 2012 and aims to provide about 13,000 public places with the free wireless internet by the end of this year. The ministry wants the mobile carriers to open up their WAPs.
Experts are watching KT, South Korea's largest telecom company, to see if it would open up some of its WAPs. KT owns the largest number of about 190,000 WAPS. Some speculate SK's move could pressure KT to cooperate with the government's policy.
Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
