SEOUL, South Korea-The South Korean government awarded two third-generation (3G) licenses out of a total three-one to SK Telecom, the country’s largest mobile provider, and one to sate-run Korea Telecom.
The third license will be awarded early next year.
The government rejected bids by LG Telecom and Hanaro Telecom.
One of the country’s 3G operators must use cdma2000 technology for its 3G network. Press reports stated both the license winners have said they will adopt wideband-CDMA technology. Only Hanaro Telecom, which plans to bid again for the third license, said it would use cdma2000.
License winners must pay about US$1.1 billion each for the licenses.
