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KT to absorb KTF (Seoul)

  • July 23rd, 2008
  • 1:01 pm

The head of KT Corp , South Korea’s top fixed-line and broadband firm, has said full integration with its mobile service unit KTF Co Ltd  would be “desirable”, a KT spokesman said.

Investors and analysts have long expected KT to absorb KTF, the country’s No. 2 mobile carrier and 53-percent owned by KT, to better compete with rivals and lead the market with services bundling fixed-line and mobile communications.

“We are still considering it and no decision has been made on details such as timing,” spokesman Lee In-won said.

However securing approval for a full merger from anti-trust authorities might turn out difficult should KT go ahead with the plan.

KT and KTF are offering products combining mobile services with landline, broadband and Internet TV, but similar products will be soon available from top domestic mobile firm SK Telecom Co Ltd , which took control of No. 2 local broadband operator hanarotelecom inc.

KT shares ended up 1.44 percent at 42,200 won before the news, lagging the wider market’s 1.96 percent gain. KTF shares fell 1.11 percent to end at 26,650 won.

KT to trial IPTV services in Russia ahead of domestic launch

  • July 31st, 2007
  • 3:02 pm

Korean communications company KT plans to launch IPTV services in Russia first, before offering such services on the domestic market, local daily the Chosun Ilbo reports. The company will launch a trial service in August with a full launch planned for next year. Currently, KT provides internet television services in Korea under the Mega TV brand, however due to legal limitations it cannot offer real-time broadcasting. Changes to the legislation are pending. The service will be launched through affiliate NTC which has secured 30 Russian broadcast channels which will be aired real-time and as VoD services.