SK Telecom

The availability of LTE service is prompting mobile customers to consume substantially more data, particularly among those who have large data plans, according to a new whitepaper.

SK Telecom will launch joyn-branded Rich Communication Services (RCS) before the end of this year as the South Korean operator joins a handful of others that have made the RCS plunge.

SK Telecom has long prided itself on introducing cutting-edge technologies. The operator's LTE network already covers 99 percent of South Korea's population and surpassed 7 million subscribers as of Dec. 12. Byun Jae-woan, SK Telecom's CTO and head of technology, is overseeing the operator's numerous ground-breaking technology efforts. He recently answered some questions via email for FierceBroadbandWireless Editor Tammy Parker, exploring the current state of SK Telecom's wireless operations and its plans for the future.

SK Telecom, Ericsson and Altair Semiconductor showcased their jointly developed two-way handover technology that supports the FDD and TDD flavors of LTE in one device--the first time this technology has been demonstrated in a moving vehicle.

With rampant rumors that Apple's upcoming iPhone 5, or whatever it is going to be called, will include LTE connectivity, South Korea's two largest mobile operators want to ensure it will work on their LTE frequencies.

MetroPCS and South Korean carriers SK Telecom and LG U+ wrestled over bragging rights this week as each vied for recognition as the operator that launched the world's first VoLTE service, but the reality is that VoLTE competition will ramp up quickly in their home markets.