Keeping up with the Kims
February 3rd, 2009 by Doc Searls
The U.S. government isn't the only one hoping to stimulate its national economy by raising available Internet speeds. JooAng Daily in Korea reports that the Korea Communications Commission has announced an infrastructure investment plan that will increase high-speed iInternet service speeds to 1Gbps, and wireless broadband service speeds to 10Mbps. Both are 10x the current service speeds, which are far higher than those we enjoy (or endure) in the U.S..
Costs:
The plan calls for a total spending of 34.1 trillion won ($24.6 billion) over the next five years. The central government will put up 1.3 trillion won, with the remainder coming from private telecom operators. The project is expected to create 120,000 jobs.
Gotta like this too:
KT, the nation’s biggest landline phone operator, voiced support for the plan. “Under the plan, we won’t have to give up our landline phone business right away, and the mainstream is Internet telephony service, so we think the plan is positive,” said a KT official.
The KCC said the changes will make high-definition TV images up to 16 times clearer, and interactive TV services such as e-commerce and home schooling will also be possible. The service will also make it possible to watch I-Max films on home TVs.
Can you imagine an American telephone or cable company official saying the same thing?
So, a question. What does that kind of capacity to ordinary users invite for development, especially of the free and open source variety?
__________________________
Doc Searls is Senior Editor of Linux Journal
Special Magazine Offer -- Free Gift with Subscription
Receive a free digital copy of Linux Journal's System Administration Special Edition as well as instant online access to current and past issues. CLICK HERE for offer
Linux Journal: delivering readers the advice and inspiration they need to get the most out of their Linux systems since 1994.
Subscribe now!
The Latest
Newsletter
Tech Tip Videos
- Nov-04-09
- Oct-29-09
- Oct-26-09
Recently Popular
From the Magazine
December 2009, #188
If last month's Infrastrucuture issue was too "big" for you then try on this month's Embedded issue. Find out how to use Player for programming mobile robots, build a humidity controller for your root cellar, find out how to reduce the boot time of your embedded system, and if you're new to embedded systems find out the basics that go into one. You can also read about the Beagle Board, the Mesh Potato and a spate of other interestingly named items. And along with our regular columns don't miss our new monthly column: Economy Size Geek.
Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Facebook








Do you think there will come
On April 15th, 2009 Mikel Jison (not verified) says:
Do you think there will come a time when the speed is not really going equate to actual needs? For example, I have 2Meg connection speed, but I couldn't imagine why i'd need anything much faster. Maybe if I was downloading a lot of large files then I may need to upgrade my connection, but for normal internet use, what is the high speed useful for? Surely everything over a certain speed (say 2Meg) is more than enough for most?
Mikel (Webmaster for lazy boy recliners)
Keeping up with the fill-in-the-blanks
On February 4th, 2009 Doc Searls says:
I went with the Kims because Kim is the most common family name in Korea. More here.
__________________________Doc Searls is Senior Editor of Linux Journal
And yet...
On February 3rd, 2009 kiwinewt (not verified) says:
Us here in the third-world countries like New Zealand are stuck on an average of 3-Mbit with a 5GB cap... Internet doesnt seem to be a priority here, and then theres the fact that our government is making everyone guilty until proven innocent with regards to downloading anything... It's stupid really...
[/rant]
The Kims?
On February 3rd, 2009 theillien says:
Come on man, you can do better than that. How about "Keeping up with the Jungs...es"? :p
Post new comment