SEOUL, Korea-Korea has made yet another policy reversal over its award of personal communications services franchises, while remaining firm about completing the licensing process by the end of June.
Three licenses for nationwide PCS will be given to the government-owned Korea Telecom and two companies-more likely a consortium-selected from the manufacturing sector, according to Information and Communications Minister Lee Seok-chae.
An update from the U.S. Department of Commerce last fall indicated that licenses would go to the current digital cellular carriers-Korea Mobile Telecommunications Corp. and Shinsegi Mobile Telecommunications Co. However, the new selection policy will award preference to companies that score the highest points in the primary screening process, Lee said. Points will be awarded based on the makeup of the consortium, financial capability, technical capability and the “business morality” of the applicants.
Contenders for the PCS licenses include telecom manufacturers LG Telecom, Samsung Electronics Corp., Hyundai Electronics and Daewoo Telecomm. Non-telecom hopefuls include Kumho, Hyosung, Hansol, Dacom Corp. and the Korea Federation of Small Businesses.
