Intel Joins KT for South Korean Wireless Broadband Internet

Seeing that the Korean Internet services market has the fastest rate of development in the entire world, more and more companies are trying to penetrate it, either directly, or by teaming up with local providers.

The latest case is that of Intel Corp., that has just announced its partnership with KT Corp, and important Korean telecommunications company, to which it will supply its logistic and technological support, in order to put on the market a new broadband wireless technology.

The WiBro technology, which will be introduced early next year, is similar to Intel's WyMax, hence the Americans' interest in assuring a level of interoperability between the two systems, especially since the estimates regarding WiBro's success are quite positive.

Intel hopes that WiMAX will be as successful as the WiFi technology, previously popularized by the American company. But, as always, there are some advantages and some disadvantages to this technology. The WiBro services will offer a speed that is 4 times smaller than WiFi's, but at least the users won't have to remain close to a "hot spot".

Intel's chief executive Paul Otellini, has pointed out this advantage, saying that "With Mobile WiMAX, Koreans can take the broadband Internet access they have enjoyed for years in their home on the road".