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WiBro is a wireless broadband service developed in South Korea for mobile devices. It uses the same standard as WiMax but is designed for on-the-go connectivity. KT, SK Telecom, and Hanaro Telecom obtained licenses to supply WiBro commercially in 2006. South Korea is a technologically advanced country with widespread broadband access and has played a role in the development of WiMax.
Developed in South Korea, WiBro is a variety of wireless broadband devices that provide Internet access; devices that may use the service include personal and desktop computers and cell phones, although it was designed specifically for cell phone use. WiBro is based on the same IEEE 802.16 standard as WiMax, but was designed to maintain connectivity on the go, tracking a receiver at speeds up to 74mph (119km/h). Broadband devices are mainly used in Korea, but other countries, such as Italy and Brazil, also use the service.
Development
Korean fixed-line operators KT, SK Telecom and Hanaro Telecom obtained licenses from the South Korean government to commercially supply WiBro in 2006. According to Asia Media News Daily, the Korean Times reported an error in the initial enthusiasm for WiBro , as published on August 31, 2005. Hanaro Telecom gave up its license for WiBro because it feared that the considerable investment required would not see a return, while SK Telecom was also said to be behind schedule. Only KT has remained enthusiastically committed to the drive to make WiBro a reality. Eventually, the service was offered by both SK Telecom and KT.
WiMax
WiMax, which stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is the current standard for wireless broadband devices in the United States. The service offers wireless Internet connectivity at fixed distances up to 30 miles (48 km) from the base station and to mobile handsets from three to ten miles away. Originally, it wasn’t designed to work with mobile handsets, making WiBro an option, but technology has advanced WiMax to work with mobile handsets as well. While South Korean technology is not commonly used in the United States, it has played a role in the development of WiMax Internet services.
A technologically advanced country
South Korea is one of the most connected countries in the world where broadband Internet access is spread through DSL, WiFi cable and WiBro. The country has also led the world market in the rapid commercialization of 3G (3rd generation) cellular services such as CDMA2000, a faster version of the Code Division Multiple Access network. Like the United States, South Korea is one of the few nations to use the CDMA cellular network more prominently than the more widely used GSM (Global System for Mobile communication). With its great enthusiasm for wireless technology, South Korea has proved to be a solid testing ground for WiBro and a stepping stone for WiMax.
