SKT-led consortium wins military network facility deal

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- A consortium led by SK Telecom Co., South Korea's top
mobile carrier, has won a deal to upgrade networks connecting 2,600 military
bases in the country, according to the company Tuesday.
The deal, estimated at around some 300 billion won (US$222 million), calls for
the consortium of 11 companies to install some 3,200 kilometers worth of
fiber-optic cables throughout military bases in the country, officials at SK
Telecom said.
The consortium will also be responsible for managing the networks as the
military's private partner over the next 10 years.
"Our feat is significant, considering that we've overcome our larger fixed-line
operator KT Corp. in sealing the deal," an official at SK Telecom said,
attributing SK Broadband Co.'s participation as a decisive factor in securing the
deal.
SK Telecom purchased a 39-percent stake in SK Broadband, formerly Hanarotelecom
Inc., for 1.09 trillion won in Dec. 2007 from former controlling shareholders led
by American International Group Inc. and Newbridge Capital LLC.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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