Super-speed Internet subscribers exceed 4 million

The number of subscribers to super-speed Internet networks has surpassed the 4 million mark.

The Ministry of Information and Communication said Sunday that the number represents 28% of the nation¡¯s total households, or roughly 1 in 4.

According to the ministry¡¯s survey results of communication service providers, the number of subscribers came to 1.73 million for Korea Telecom, 1.1 million for Hanaro Telecom, 760,000 for Thrunet, and 410,000 for other companies, including Dream Line, Dacom, Onse Telecom and SK Telecom.

The ministry forecast that the number of subscribers would increase to 6 million by the end of this year.

Officials said that a subscription boom was likely to spread in mid-sized and small cities; and farming and fishing villages starting in the middle of this year.

Kim Tae-Han freewill@donga.com