KT beats rivals for Internet-based TV, phone subscribers last year

SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- KT Corp., South Korea's biggest fixed-line telephone
and broadband Internet operator, outdid its rivals last year in the number of
subscribers to its Internet-based TV and phone services, according to data
released on Tuesday.

KT reported that it attracted a net 994,000 customers last year for its real-time
Internet-protocol television (IPTV) services, with the company's total
subscription base increasing to 1.01 million.
IPTV delivers television and movie content in real-time through broadband
Internet networks instead of using radio frequency or satellite signals as
traditional TVs do. The technology also offers video-on-demand (VOD) services.
The growth of IPTV has outpaced previous new media services. Cable television
channels took more than four years to recruit 1 million subscribers, while
satellite television service took some 21 months.
SK Broadband Co., the broadband unit of the country's No. 1 mobile carrier SK
Telecom Co., ranked second in overall IPTV subscribers, drawing in a net 403,000
users. LG Dacom Corp., which was absorbed by the country's smallest mobile
carrier LG Telecom Ltd. as of Jan. 1, 2010, attracted 316,000 customers.
KT also led in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services last year, narrowing
the gap with its leading rival LG Dacom.
KT estimated its total VoIP customer base rose to 1.70 million in the end of 2009
from 328,000 a year earlier.
The number of LG Dacom's Internet phone service users was 2.14 million, adding
938,000 from a year earlier.
SK Broadband's VoIP service drew 1.17 million subscribers last year, totaling
1.33 million.
The Internet-based telephony service has continued to attract more subscribers as
it allows users to save up to 50 to 60 percent of existing call charges.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
(END)