Given such a market environment, mobile network operators and equipment makers are viewing 2.5G services as the only alternative to the current snag. Early last year, they were quite fast in adopting new technology, noting that the number of mobile phone subscribers was already estimated to have reached its saturation point. On May 1 LG Telecom launched commercial 2.5G services covering 97 cities across the nation. SK Telecom, the dominant mobile phone operator, has been providing 2.5G services for about two months across six metropolitan areas. In addition, SK has announced that their 2.5G system allows dramatically faster mobile applications than those currently possible, including video communication using mobile phones with cameras and high-speed Internet access.
Many experts are skeptical.
Compared with the current 9.6 to 19.2 kbps, analysts say that 2.5G services are a big improvement, with speeds up to 144 kbps. But it isn't efficient to transfer huge amounts of image data through a wireless phone. Moreover, the speed will have to be decreased to between 80 and 100 kbps when used on a mobile telephone. Operators and equipment makers have the right ingredients for the new mobile technology but more time is needed to fully deliver the service.