Koreans take 100Mbps broadband for granted

The majority of South Koreans rate their broadband services as 'ordinary' despite having the world's fastest internet connections, according to a recent survey.

Korean broadband providers typically offer speeds of 100Mbps. However, the government-sponsored Korean Communications Commission (KCC) found that no service provider consistently provides this level of service.

The fastest '100Mbps' service was delivered by LG Powercomm with an average speed of 91Mbps, the KCC found.

The average speed of all 100Mbps service providers is just 46Mbps, but this compares to typical average broadband speeds of well below 10Mbps in most other countries.

Seven service providers offer high-speed broadband services in Korea to more than 15 million subscribers.

Korea Telecom controls 44.2 per cent of the market, followed by Hanarotelecom with 24 per cent and LG Powercomm with 12.2 per cent.

"By giving quality information to internet users, we expect customers to have more information when they choose products," said KCC representative Lee Eun-hee, according to the Joongang Daily.

"This encourages service providers to compete against one another to improve the overall quality of such products."

Kim Young-wan of Korea Telecom added: "The rate at which high-speed internet customers are increasing has slowed down a lot.

"That is why internet service providers are looking for new revenue sources such as internet telephony and IPTV services."

See also:

Profits fall at Taiwanese telco giant

Chunghwa Telecom reports Q4 revenue of $1.74bn  27 Mar 2008

Internet addiction classed as mental disorder

South Koreans most at risk  19 Mar 2008

Korean portal Naver posts record sales

New record set by world's fifth biggest search engine  09 Nov 2007

Asia leads in fibre broadband networks

225 million subscribers to ultra-high speed internet expected  09 May 2007

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