[00-7-04] Korea's Thrunet In Broadband Tie-Up With Singapore Govt
By Adam Creed, Newsbytes.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA,
04 Jul 2000, 11:42 PM CST
Korea's Thrunet In Broadband Tie-Up With Singapore Govt 07/04/00 SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, 2000 JUL 4 (NB) -- By Adam Creed, Newsbytes. An Asian broadband content alliance that covers high-speed Internet access networks in Korea, Singapore and Taiwan is taking shape with the latest deal between Korea Thrunet Co. Ltd. [NASDAQ:KOREA] and a Singapore Government agency.
Thrunet's content deal with the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) calls for the development of a co-branded Web site and the sharing of localized broadband multimedia content.
Thrunet will be able to offer its Korean high-speed Internet access customers Asian broadband content from Singapore.
The deal is similar to an earlier one between Thrunet and Taiwan's GigaMedia [NASDAQ:GIGM]. Under that agreement, Chinese-speaking Thrunet customers will be able to view more Chinese-language content from Taiwan, while Taiwanese Internet users will have access to popular Korean cultural content.
The IDA is a Singapore Government agency behind much of the development of national broadband network Singapore ONE.
In May, the IDA inked a similar agreement with GigaMedia that would make the Taiwanese provider's Chinese content accessible on Singapore ONE, while Singapore ONE content and applications will now be available to GigaMedia broadband users.
GigaMedia has, in turn, signed broadband content agreements with Pacific Century CyberWorks in Hong Kong.
"We are strategically working to strengthen our business relations with other leading broadband players by content sharing programs, and taking this opportunity to expand our business base into the broader Asian market," said Jong Kil Kim, president and CEO of Korea Thrunet.
The Korean company was the first to offer broadband Internet access services in Korea, and had 293,755 subscribers at the end of April 2000. It's network passes over 6.2 million homes.
Singapore ONE was commercially launched in 1998 and is now accessible to almost all Singapore homes and businesses. Subscribers are estimated to be at around 100,000, with a target of 400,000 by the end of 2001.
GigaMedia had 18,630 broadband subscribers at March 31, 2000, and through deals with Taiwan cable TV operators its network passes by over 3.8 million homes.
Reported By Newsbytes.com, newsbytes.com
23:42 CST
(20000704/WIRES ASIA, ONLINE/)
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