KTF Launches Nationwide Ultra-High Speed Wireless Network with LG-Nortel
4 July 2006
r> SEOUL, Korea, July 2 - KTF, one of South Korea's leading cellular providers, has launched a next-generation ultra-high speed 3.5G wireless network in Seoul and cities across South Korea using wireless broadband technology from LG-Nortel(xx), a joint venture of LG Electronics and Nortel(x) (NYSE/TSX: NT). The network supports advanced handset capabilities including high-definition (HD) video, video chatting, messaging and remote monitoring.
The new 3.5 G HSDPA, handset-based service is being launched with two handset models in the initial deployment - including the first HSDPA phone from LG Electronics, the LG-KH1000. A further four to five handsets are planned later in the year. KTF's new service is branded 'WorldPhone View', a name representing 'the world at your fingertips' through access to video and collaborative multimedia applications.
KTF's HSDPA mobile communications will be rolled out in 50 cities across South Korea beginning June 30. LG-Nortel is the primary network supplier and is the exclusive vendor for 34 cities including the vast Seoul metropolitan area which alone accounts for almost 50 percent of the total population of Korea. It is estimated that 80 percent of the country's population will be able to access the service by the end of August 2006. A further 34 cities will be added by year-end, raising that figure to over 90 percent of the population, according to KTF estimates.
"The launch of our 'WorldPhone View' HSDPA service is a key component of KTF's portfolio of next-generation mobile services," said Won-Jin Park, executive vice president, KTF. "We chose LG-Nortel as the primary supplier for our UMTS/HSDPA network based on its strong technology credentials and our existing relationship. LG-Nortel has successfully implemented a world-class network which allows us to implement groundbreaking services as we enhance the mobile communications experience for all our customers."
"LG Nortel, with the strong support of our parent companies Nortel and LGE, has implemented a secure, reliable, high-speed network to support the innovative range of services and applications KTF is launching to its customers," said Peter MacKinnon, chairman of the board, LG-Nortel. "Korea leads the world in wireless broadband and LG-Nortel plays an integral role in ensuring the continuation of that success. We will work closely with KTF on the evolution of their network to support higher uplink speeds and ever-more sophisticated service requirements in the future."
A key differentiator of HSDPA compared to current technologies is its ability to support high-speed, real-time HD video content. 'WorldPhone View' users will be able to access a variety of new services, including video SMS, video ringtone services, video chatting, video ad messaging and video remote monitoring - as well as high-quality video telephony. High-speed broadband capabilities will also enhance music downloads and high-volume multimedia collaboration and set the foundation for more sophisticated online gaming applications. The two HSDPA handsets being launched will also support universal integrated circuit (IC) cards, allowing access to secure transactions for transportation, membership, mobile banking and credit card services.
KTF's HSDPA wireless network can deliver services at download speeds up to 14.4Mbps. The introduction of LG-Nortel's HSUPA upgrade, planned for early 2007, will increase uplink speeds to 5.8 Mbps, improving performance for services requiring the high-speed upload of data.
Demonstrating its technology leadership, Nortel achieved the industry's first HSDPA mobile call in January 2005 and Nortel and LGE completed the first live test calls using a commercial handset solution for HSDPA in March 2005. More recently, in February 2006, Nortel achieved approval for the introduction of high speed OFDM and MIMO packet access, in line with its technology HSOPA, into the Global 3GPP LTE standards. This paves the way for 'multiplay' services including voice, high-speed interactive applications including large data transfer, feature-rich IPTV, IMS enabled services, all with full mobility.
About Nortel
Nortel is a recognized leader in delivering communications capabilities that enhance the human experience, ignite and power global commerce, and secure and protect the world's most critical information. Our next-generation technologies, for both service providers and enterprises, span access and core networks, support multimedia and business-critical applications, and help eliminate today's barriers to efficiency, speed and performance by simplifying networks and connecting people with information. Nortel does business in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit Nortel on the Web at http://www.nortel.com. For the latest Nortel news, visit http://www.nortel.com/news.
About LG-Nortel
LG-Nortel is a joint venture between LG Electronics and Nortel, officially launched in November 3, 2005. LG-Nortel offers advanced telecommunications and network solutions in wired and wireless telecommunications, optical and enterprise areas for Korean and global customers. Its main divisions are Carrier Networks and Enterprise Networks businesses. Prior to the establishment of the joint venture, LG Electronics and Nortel had a close collaboration and were selected as network suppliers for KTF and SK Telecom's HSDPA/WCDMA networks. The company's sales and marketing departments are in the company's GS Tower building in Kangnam-gu, Seoul and its R&D center in Anyang, Geonggi province. For more information on LG-Nortel, visit http://www.LG-NORTEL.com.
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Source: prnewswire
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