Korea plans to leap into 4G

By Alexander Villafania - INQ7.net

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA -- Long after most Asian countries implement their 3G networks, South Korea would already be implementing 4G, a technology that virtually connects all network devices including mobile phones and can deliver up to 100 megabits of bandwidth in a wireless environment.

Using a cellular transmission standard called Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), rich multimedia services and content, especially mobile TV, can be delivered through a mobile phone.

In addition, Korean technology company Samsung is already closely working with telecommunications providers SK Telecom to launch some time in the second half of this year what it calls WiBro or wireless plus broadband, which would be the first step toward 4G on a desktop computing level.

Although still largely on a test basis in six cities, WiBro is expected to complete Korea's telecommunications convergence efforts, along with HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access) which SK Telecom just recently launched.

4G will be based on packet-only switching to transmit data, unlike in a 3G environment wherein data has to go through circuit-switching and packet-switching. This gives 4G less data latency on a high-speed network throughput.

WiBro uses the mobile version of WiMAX (worldwide interoperability for microwave access) and has a maximum effective radial range of up to 5 kilometers with data throughput of up to 50 megabits per second.

Samsung Executive Vice President Woon Sub Kim told reporters during the SEK 2006 Exhibit in South Korea that the country's aim is to ensure seamless integration of basic voice telecommunications and data services in both the wireless and wired spaces.

He said among the applications that will push 4G would be mobile television, streaming music, wireless gaming, wireless financial services and mobile payment.

"We're also seeing a growing trend among 3G users who upload their photos and video online through their mobile phones. Thus, 4G would provide better options for user-generated content," Kim said.

Apart from South Korea, Japan would be the only other country that has long-term 4G deployment plans. Japan's telecommunications provider NTT DoCoMo plans to make its 4G network commercially available by 2010.