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To: slacker711 who wrote (18178)	2/6/2002 12:18:30 PM
From: Eric L	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 34857

re: 2.5G or 3G Korea style << SK Telecom released their earnings today.... >> Interesting. Classification is now 2G v. 1x Will the real 3G please stand up? I'll be interested in what you glean from the CC. Do you have a link? >> KTF, LG Downplay SK's Next Generation Mobile Phone Service Kim Deok-hyun Korea Times 2002/02/06 SK Telecom, the country's top mobile carrier, has launched a commercial operation of CDMA2000 1X EV-DO (Evolution Data Optimized), which it claims is the world's first third-generation (3G) service based on Qualcomm's CDMA2000 technology. However, SK Telecom's ambitious 3G roll-out has been mired in confusion, in the face of a series of counterattacks by its rivals KTF and LG Telecom. Their criticism is centered on how SK Telecom can call itself a 3G commercial operator based on CDMA2000 technology. They argue it doesn't make sense because the government has awarded an exclusive 3G license, which will be used for Qualcomm's network, to LG Telecom. KTF spokesman Lee Young-bae said his company rolled out its trial EV-DO operation last December. He added SK Telecom's move is nothing but a ``migration path'' from their old systems to new phone networks. ``SK Telecom has spent so much on the 3G license and are trying to find ways to recover their monies,'' Lee said. Another competitor, LG Telecom said in a statement that SK Telecom's highly publicized launch of its EV-DO service is hard to be described as a 3G network. ``The service is no more than a test-run, in view of its network coverage and lack of mobile handsets,'' the statement said. LG Telecom, which won the 3G license last August, was stung by SK Telecom's commercial operation. ``SK Telecom, despite having won a 3G license based on wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) technology, has glossed over public opinion as it is the first 3G operator of CDMA2000 technology,'' the statement said. WCDMA evolved from the global system for mobile communications (GSM), which is backed by Europe and Japan. Late last month, SK Telecom began the EV-DO or 3G commercial service in Inchon city and neighboring areas, but it didn't show off mobile handsets. The government has one of the most ambitious policies for the introduction of 3G services in the world. Much of the technology is already in service in so-called CDMA2000 1X or 2.5G phones on sale. But the government and mobile carriers put off the launch of the so-called IMT-2000 telephone services from this year and the next deadline of early 2003 could also be extended further. So, does EV-DO technology have the right to call itself 3G? Early last year, the International Telecommunication Union, a body representing worldwide carriers, claimed that EV-DO meets its standards for 3G technologies. However, the two rivals believe the ITU's designation may only end up giving Qualcomm and others bragging rights in a battle they are losing. By most estimates, about 15 percent of the world's phone networks are based on CDMA. About 60-65 percent of the world's phone networks uses GSM. << - Eric -