Koryolink
 |
|
| Joint venture | |
| Industry | Telecommunication |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Pyongyang |
|
Area served
|
Pyongyang, and five additional cities and eight highways and railways. |
| Products | Telephony, GPRS |
| Revenue | US$ 5.8 million[citation needed] |
| Parent | Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding (75%) Korea Posts and Telecommunications Corporation |
| Website | intranet Homepage Kwangmyung |
Koryolink (Korean: 고려링크, styled as koryolink) is a North Korean wireless telecommunications provider. A joint venture between the Egyptian company Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding (OTMT) and the state-owned Korea Post and Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC), Koryolink is the only 3G mobile operator in North Korea.[citation needed] It offers service in Pyongyang and five additional cities as well as along eight highways and railways. Phone numbers on the network are prefixed with +850 (0)1912. Despite being a 3G network, there is no Internet access for domestic users although as of April 2014, mobile internet access for foreigners with limited speed or traffic amount is available at a comparably high price.[1]
History
Orascom Telecom Holding was awarded the licence to establish a 3G mobile network in DPRK in January 2008. Koryolink has deployed its 3G network to initially cover Pyongyang, which has a population of more than 2 million, with an ambitious plan to expand its coverage to the entire country.
At network launch in December 2008, the network had 5,300 subscribers.[2] Orascom reported 432,000 North Korean subscribers after two years of operation (December 2010),[3] increasing to 809,000 by September 2011,[4] and exceeding one million by February 2012.[5] By April 2013, subscriber numbers neared two million.[6]
In 2015 subscriber number exceeded 3 millions and network was profitable. However the Government of North Korea refused permission to transfer profits from North Korea to Orascom and even started a second carrier to compete with Koryolink. As result Orascom in its financial result reported, that it lost control over Koryolink's activities.[7]
Use by foreigners
On February 26, 2013, Koryolink launched its internet service for foreigners.[8] On March 29, 2013, Koryolink restricted Internet service for foreigners.[9]
Sources
- Business Week - Cell phone demand stays strong in North Korea
- Compluenta - Сотовая связь Северной Кореи пошла в рост
- EasyBourse - France Télécom et Orascom signent les termes finalisés de leurs accords sur Mobinil
- c114.net - 奥斯康一季度净利4900万美元 朝鲜手机用户12.6万
- LA Times - North Korea allows cellphone network
- Other news articles on Koryolink
References
- ↑ http://blog.br.de/nordkorea-marathon/2014/04/12/kim-jong-uns-hauptstadt/
- ↑ http://www.nkeconwatch.com/category/organizaitons/orascom-telecom-holding/
- ↑ Orascom Telecom Holding First Quarter 2011 Results, page 29 (accessed 20 May 2011)
- ↑ Orascom Telecom Holding Third Quarter 2011 Results, page 30 (accessed 28 April 2012)
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