KT gets to build Poland broadband network

KT said yesterday that it won a 128.2 billion won ($119.6 million) deal to build a broadband network in Poland’s biggest province, Masovian.

It is the second project of its kind in Poland for the Korean company after it secured a contract worth 23 billion won with the northeastern province of Podlaskie in March.

In the latest deal, Korea’s leading Internet service provider said it will build 3,680 kilometers (2,286 miles) of optical cable in Masovian. Work will start this month and is expected to be completed in 2016. Masovian Province includes Warsaw, Poland’s capital.

According to KT, the project will boost the Internet speed to 100 megabits per second, the same speed as most of the households in Korea.

The company expects the project will put it in a better position to win follow-up jobs. Once the Masovian optical cable is finished, the Polish government will seek bidders for a 70 billion won contract to operate and maintain the newly-built network, the company said.

KT credited getting the project to its years-long experience and know-how in building ultrafast Internet networks. Kotra and Daewoo International also assisted KT in getting the deal, it said.

“Based on this project, we will aim to expand our business into adjacent countries,” said Kim Hong-jin, president of KT’s G&E division.

Last month, KT, which also is Korea’s second-largest mobile carrier, won the title of world’s No. 1 sustainable telecommunications company from the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the third straight time.

BY MOON GWANG-LIP [joe@joongang.co.kr]