The point in liberalizing telecommunication services is how to build an environment, which will drive for fairer competition between downstream operators (network and/or services). If this development is properly nurtured, new and creative services are likely to bloom. This will naturally help finally national competitiveness and efficiency.
Hence, the EUCCK recommends the Korean Government to pay utmost attention to open access and to lowering connection charges to internationally competitive level. For example, in Northern Europe any player has right to access to network and contents with reasonable price.
Mobile telephony connection fees in Korea are lower than in the case of Europe.
<Comparative data regarding mobile telephony connection fees>
2007
France
8.58
Germany
10.21
Japan
9.71
England
10.58
Spain
13.16
Italy
12.92
Korea
(Average of mobile
telecom company)
4.57
If the statement of EUCCK is true, connection charges could act as a barrier in entry into European markets.
EUCCK suggests that networks and services should be provided to any player at reasonable price,
But Korea already allows network and service access at reasonable price, which is calculated and notified based on original cost,
and EUCCK's assertion is not based on facts and is thus groundless.
Business Licence
The EUCCK recommends that cross-border provision of telecommunication services without local registration should be allowed, as long as the service provided is deemed not harmful based on other laws and regulations.
Foreign service providers may provide crossborder services only by going through a certain process.
Foreign service providers may provide crossborder services by establishing a contract with a domestic service provider that provides the same common carrier services.
Crossborder supply is being permitted through minimum procedure required for user protection, securement of taxing rights, etc.
Operators Choice of Open and Global Technical Requirements
1.Korea should allow IMEI disclosure on the handset and on the sales package.
Korea should adopt UCS2 global standard, which is used in the wireline PC environment, also as the standard for Korean language SMS to allow interoperability of handsets.
Korea should standardize a globally recognized charger interface for future mobile handsets (e.g. using a USB interface which is currently under discussions in various global and national standard forums).
Korea should promote transparency in the way government (or any non-government bodies) develop and apply technical regulations and related conformity assessment procedures.
<IMEI>
IMEI has the correct secret code assigned to handsets,
but in WCDMA, the ESN function of 2G is separated into IMSI and IMEI
Consumer damages have occurred due to the leakage of handsets' secret codes,
Under current law, handsets' secret codes cannot be revealed.
<USIM>
Unlocking USIM is related to 3G services, and SMS problems in 3G services have already been resolved.
Currently, SKT and KTF have officially accepted global standards both USC2 and KSC5601 (adopted SMSC in 2008 which accepts USC2).
There are no problems in handset compatibility, and users in Korea are not subject to limitations in usage of Korean language SMS outside of Korea.
Therefore, there are no SMS related barriers imposed on foreign handset manufacturers in entering the Korean market.
<Charger standardization >
Standardization of chargers is pursued independently by service providers through agreement, and is irrelevant to government regulation.
It is judged that measures are indeed necessary to solve this issue going forward, such as interface standardization in consideration of consumer convenience, international standardization trends, etc.
