KT launches global voice and Internet connection

KT Corp., Korea’s largest fixed-wire service and high-speed Internet provider, is offering a broadband service that enables high-speed Internet and telephone calls anywhere in the world. The company said yesterday that its Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service uses an Inmarsat satellite, allowing seamless mobile broadband coverage that includes voice and data communications. On May 15, Inmarsat launched its own BGAN service in the Americas. To gain mobile broadband access, users must buy a BGAN terminal that can be linked to multiple computers. The portable device weighs 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) to 2.2 kilograms ― different devices are offered for broadcasters and regular users. “We expect the service will be especially useful for construction companies and travel agencies that have dispatched workers to places that have inadequate mobile communications infrastructures, such as Africa or the Middle East,” a KT spokesman said. Telephone calls via BGAN are 1,200 won ($1.27) a minute; Internet connection costs are fixed at 7,360 won per megabyte. Virtual private network services range from 3,420 to 19,800 won per minute depending on the connection speed. by Wohn Dong-hee