100,000 subscribers sign up Orascom’s CHEO in its first year

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: 100,000 subscribers have been added by CHEO Technology operating under the Koryolink brand in its first year and expect to add millions more in the next five years. CHEO Technology is the North Korean subsidiary of Egypt-based telecoms group Orascom Telecom.

Although the handset price of USD195 places wireless services out of the reach of the average citizen, the increasing subscription figures show that mobile phones are not limited to elite members of the military and communist party. Koryolink currently offers only a basic voice and SMS service while international calls and roaming are not provided by the operator.

A 25-year license to operate 3G services was awarded to Koryolink in January 2008, with the first four years on an exclusive basis. 75% of the company is owned by Orascom telecom and 25% by state-owned Korea Post and Telecoms Corporation.