Most notably, the executive voiced a need for global roaming technology in the future. He cited the current difference between Korean cellular phones and those from other countries and named that as an unnecessary incompatibility. He also pointed to Mobile WiMAX as the solution to this problem. "Mobile WiMAX shall take root as a global service, and not remain a local phenomenon specific to only a certain region. For this, it is important to secure a global spectrum and industry cooperation to flawlessly support the Global Roaming service," he said.
He mentioned this while speaking about Sprint-Nextel's plans for Mobile WiMAX. He mentioned that in August, Sprint-Nextel announced they would start supporting the 4G technology. The CEO emphasized that it was essential for the global adoption of WiMAX to achieve standardization and product licensing in line with market pressures.
He also mentioned during the speech that he preferred to see a reasonable IPR policy. He said: "I hope to see in place a policy that keeps royalty at a reasonable level so that Mobile WiMAX products can have price competitiveness in opening up the infantile market." He went on to say that lower IP royalties were necessary to lower the entry barrier into the WiMAX market.
Mr. Nam also mentioned the growing necessity of the Internet in general, and mobile broadband services in particular. He noted that the Internet is all around us, when taking a bus or a subway, or when just walking down the street.
People are constantly using the Internet or the effects of the Internet by listening to their favorite music on their mp3-enabled phones, playing network games, or watching DMB programs. In cars, consumers regularly find the directions in an unfamiliar neighborhood using a navigator program.
He said that the information that people are already accessing and taking with them can be given to them at a faster rate with mobile broadband. "The paradigm is shifting from voice and fixed broadband to data-oriented wireless broadband," he emphasized.
The CEO also spoke about KT's experience as the world's first WiBro provider. KT was granted the 2.3Ghz frequency for its Mobile Broadband business in 2005. On June 30, KT launched the world's first commercial WiBro service based on Mobile WiMAX. Mr. Nam related an anecdote about one early-adopting WiBro subscriber who tried using a laptop that he got in Japan as the terminal. The subscriber wasn't sure if WiBro could be installed on his laptop because it ran on a Japanese-language OS.
But when he found out that the driver was installed properly for normal connections, he was glad. He said that he thought he could now use WiBro service in Japan, after installation. He was surprised to find out that WiBro hadn't yet been initialized in Japan.
CEO Nam also spoke about the true value of WiBro technology. He said: "With WiBro, we will be able to talk to our loved ones face-to-face whenever and wherever we are and check our health condition instantly. It will make our individual lives richer and happier." He also noted that video conferencing while on the move will be possible. Video viewing and web search can be done simultaneously and videos can be uploaded to personal blogs in real time. The executive named the future a Mobile Broadband Wonderland.
He said: "It is a world that can be realized through technology and service developed by KT as well as numerous other companies, and all of you WiMAX experts gathered here today hold the key to such a future."
저작권자 © Korea IT Times 무단전재 및 재배포 금지
