Cellular operators may see new competition

Changes are ahead for Korea's mobile service providers this year. Consumers now have three cellular operators to choose from: SK Telecom, KT and LG Telecom. But that number may be about to grow, bringing already competitive rivalries to a fever pitch. A bill passed by the National Assembly last week will allow companies not involved in the telecom industry to rent network capacity from existing operators, according to the Korea Communications Commission yesterday.
These new providers would be known as "mobile virtual network operators" or MVNOs, a term for a company that provides mobile phone service but does not have its own network infrastructure or licensed frequency on the radio spectrum.