Story from Korea herald Apr 3 edition>
04-03-99 Mobile phone penetration rate increases to 39.5%
Korea's mobile phone subscribers numbered more than 18 million, raising the penetration rate to 39.5 percent in March from 33 percent a month earlier, the
Ministry of Information and Communication said yesterday. The ministry said the number of mobile phone users reached 18.5 million as of the end of March.
The number translates into four mobile phone users out of every 10 Koreans. SK Telecom, the largest mobile carrier, attained a subscription base of 7.63 million
people to account for 41.2 percent of the mobile phone market. KT Freetel, an affiliate of Korea Telecom, came next with 3.29 million subscribers, or 17.8
percent. Shinsegi Telecomm took third place with 2.8 million people, or 15.2 percent.
It is followed by LG Telecom, which attracted 420,000 new subscribers in March to reach 2.72 million people, or 14.7 percent. Hansol PCS managed to finally
reach the 2-million mark last month, a symbolic point for a business upturn. With 2.04 million subscribers, the carrier said it will attain break-even-point by the
end of this year. The continued subscription growth is attributed to the five telecom firms' aggressive marketing, aimed at attracting as many as possible new
subscribers before April, when they are subject to tougher regulations.
Beginning April 1, the carriers have been ordered to drastically cut their subsidies for handset purchases, a common practice used to lure new users. Subscribers
have also been allowed to change their service provider if not satisfied with their current services. (NIS)
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