Seoul, Korea, 15 May 2007 - SK Telecom (CEO Shin Bae Kim, www.sktelecom.com) announced that it has been one year since the company commercialized the world’s first handset-based HSDPA service. In line with this, the company plans to build high speed uplink packet access (HSUPA) networks throughout the country by 2009. The HSUPA network is designed to provide a maximum data uplink speed of 5.76Mbps.

HSUPA is a global standard technology that allows for high speed and high capacity wireless data communication by improving the uplink data transmission speed to become a 3.5 generation mobile phone technology. This technology will establish itself as an SK Telecom’s future generation network to accelerate a complex network business. The commercial “3G+” service was introduced on May 16, 2006 based on the HSDPA network. Just like CDMA mobile service coverage, it has been covering 99% of the population across the country since the end of March of 2007.

At the end of April SK Telecom released a Single Band Single Mode (SBSM) type handset (SH-130). Since then, the company has launched seven new model handsets in the first half of this year. In addition, three new T LOGIN handsets which are used in connecting with various digital devices such as notebook computers and portable multimedia terminals were introduced. SK Telecom will launch four new SBSM handsets by the first half, and about twenty new models by the second half of this year. These handsets greatly promote a wide spread of “Ubiquitous” wireless services throughout people’s daily lives. 

As a result of analyzing a total of 237,000 SK Telecom’s 3G+ service subscribers as of May 31^st, male subscribers represented 57%, and people aged between twenties and thirties occupied 47%. Thus, the main customer segment is youth. In addition, they primarily used HSDPA network-based services such as video calls and broadcast services due to the reduction of video call rates and multimedia services rates. In this regard, high capacity data services are expected to become “Killer” content in the 3G+ service.

SK Telecom plans to upgrade the 3G+ service with the following four concepts - ① “Visual Concept” based on video calls and video call-based value-added services, ② “Internet Concept” that is focused on interactive content and high quality multimedia ③ “Global Concept” that is focused on automatic roaming services in 100 countries worldwide and ④ “Life Convenience Concept” that concentrates on USIM-based traffic pass, mobile banking and credit card payments. With these concepts, the company will secure more than 1.5 million 3G+ subscribers.

Starting with Busan in June, SK Telecom will extend the coverage of HSUPA network throughout the country by 2009. The HSUPA network features a maximum data download speed of 14.4Mbps, and a maximum data upload speed of 5.76Mbps between base station and terminal. This speed enables customers to produce streaming video of UCC and personal broadcasting programs, as well as being able to use terminal automatic upload services.

The HSUPA network that was built in some areas in Busan in June provides a maximum data upload speed of 1.45Mbps. The network will offer a maximum data upload speed of 5.76Mbps in metropolitan areas including Seoul at the beginning of 2008, 23 cities in 2008, and 84 cities nationwide in 2009.

SK Telecom and domestic handset makers will release USB of 2Mbps in October of this year, USB of 5.76Mbps in February 2008, and HSUPA handsets in the first quarter of 2008 in order to be able to provide handset-based HSUPA network services. In this connection, The HSUPA network-based UCC will create a great sensation as a new business model in the market In addition, many subscribers will be able to produce streaming video on their own mobile phone, and upload the video to any Internet site they want. This will lead to high quality and quantity content in the marketplace.

In keeping with this trend, SK Telecom is in the full swing of developing a UCC portal, and plans to launch it by this year. Through this portal, customers are able to edit their UCC and share it with other people. The portal also offers them a variety of UCC-based services such as personal broadcasts and advertisements.

“It has been one year since the commercial HSDPA network was introduced. Based on this network, subscribers have enjoyed a more convenient mobile life as increasing numbers of CDMA and HSDPA services were offered. SK Telecom will introduce a more upgraded HSUPA network in June, and provide subscribers with mobile phone, wireless platform and solution services. This will establish a solid foundation for promoting creation of a wireless UCC, and a wired and wireless combined streaming video” said Se Hyun Oh, senior vice-president and head of SK Telecom’s Strategic Technology Group.