Mobile broadcasts to become reality

Mobile phone and personal digital assistant users will be able to receive digital broadcasts via satellite beginning next year, according to SK Telecom Co. The company said yesterday it would form a digital multimedia broadcasting consortium using a Japan-based Mobile Broadcasting Corp. satellite. SK Telecom is one of the two largest investors in the Japanese satellite communications firm and aims to sign a contract next month. KT Corp. is weighing an option to secure a frequency range independently or to participate in SK Telecom’s consortium. According to research, the satellite broadcasting business could create 22,000 new jobs and 8.8 trillion won ($7.4 billion) in revenue by 2010. SK Telecom plans to provide 11 television channels, 25 audio channels and three information channels, and charge 12,000 won to 15,000 won per month for the service. by Kweon Hyuk-joo