SEOUL, South Korea-Korean mobile operators SK Telecom and KTF launched their W-CDMA networks this week to meet a year-end deadline, although full commercial services are not expected until March 2004. A lack of handsets is one reason the services will be delayed until next year, according to international press reports.
Both operators currently offer CDMA2000 1x and 1x EV-DO services. Korea will be the first and likely only market where the same operators will offer the competing CDMA2000 and W-CDMA technologies.
Many analysts and market watchers have questioned the need for the W-CDMA networks when CDMA2000 services are already offered.
