According to the Ministry of Information and Communication Sunday, 14.3 million out of the country's 15.9 million households nationwide are linked to broadband Internet connections as of May.
In particular, Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province posted 106.8 percent and 100.7 percent in the broadband penetration rate, respectively. Incheon, also encircled by Gyeonggi Province, came in third with 99.2 percent.
``The average broadband penetration rate at the capital territories including Incheon and Gyeonggi Province surpassed 100 percent,'' said an official at the Information Ministry.
``This means every household in the area gets access to high-speed Internet connections. Seoul and its vicinity are most wired in the globe,'' he said.
The country's two landline operators - KT and Hanaro Telecom - have spearheaded the introduction and propagation of the high-speed Internet through a two-way rivalry.
The runner-up player Hanaro ignited the competition in 1999 by embarking on the asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) for the first time in history.
Hanaro garnered notable success with the world's first genuine high-speed Internet service that offered the always-on connectivity to subscribers.
Spurred by Hanaro, the business bellwether KT followed suit shortly thereafter, thus sparking the sign-up blitz with affordable prices. This played a pivotal role for the rapid penetration of the Internet.
However, there is a flip side of the much-hailed broadband success.
Although Seoul and the surrounding regions boast of 100 percent usage rates of the Internet, the figures are very low in some areas, the problem called geographical digital divide.
In South Jeolla Province, the penetration rate was merely 58.4 percent in May for the worst record followed by 69 percent at North Gyeongsang Province.
``We will continue to put forth efforts to spread the Internet into the rural areas or islands so that residents there can also enjoy the high-speed Internet,'' the anonymous official said.
Autor(en)/Author(s): Kim Tae-gyu
Quelle/Source: The Korea Times, 08.07.2007
