Internet Telephony Service to be Launched Today

Internet telephony (VoIP) services that enable phone calls over broadband will be launched starting August 22.

The price has been set at 45 won every three minutes with a 2,000 won base charge, which is expected to intensify the competition between PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and its Internet counterparts.

According to the communications industry on August 21, the designated service providers of VoIP, Samsung Networks and Anyuser. Net have recently decided to launch the service after completing network connections with KT, a common carrier.

The VoIP service providers will begin attracting customers starting next month, when KT’s inspection process ends.

The operators said the Internet phone service became possible thanks to the 12-line network, including three lines in each of the four KT offices at Guro, Hyehwa, Shinseol, and Mokdong in Seoul.

Samsung Networks and Anyuser. Net will operate their services at 070-7010-xxxx~7019-9999 and 070-7000-xxxx~7009-9999, respectively.

Meanwhile, the number of available Internet phone numbers this year will reportedly reach a total of 7.8 million, including 7.0 million from seven common carriers such as KT and Hanaro Telecom that will launch service starting November, and 800,000 from eight IP operators including Samsung Networks.

Do-Young Kim nirvana1@donga.com