Summary
KT, a renowned telecommunications entity, traces its origins to the establishment of Korea Telecom Corporation on Dec. 10, 1981. In 1984, the company introduced its electronic switching system, ‘TDX-1,’ which later became commercially available in 1986. Utilizing this technology, the company achieved the ambitious target of providing “one telephone per household” by establishing 10 million telephone lines nationwide in September 1987. The subsequent launch of the ‘TDX-100′ in 1999 marked a groundbreaking milestone, elevating Korea’s telecommunications industry to a global standard by attaining self-sufficiency in telephone exchanges.
In a strategic move to advance its mobile telecommunications capabilities, Korea Telecom established Korea Mobile Telecommunications Corporation (now SK Telecom) in 1984. In 1996, the acquisition of PCS business rights led to the formation of Korea Telecom Freetel (KTF). Within six months of its April 1998 launch, KTF reached 1 million subscribers, and by September 1999, wireless subscribers (21.56 million) surpassed landline subscribers (21.04 million), signifying a shift from wired to wireless communication. Korea Telecom further expanded its portfolio in 2000 by acquiring HansolM.com, integrating it into KTF in 2001.
The advent of the Internet era in Korea commenced with the launch of KORNET, a commercial Internet service, by Korea Telecom in 1994. May 2000 saw the introduction of MegaPass, a high-speed Internet service, garnering 1 million subscribers within months and reaching 3 million by June 2001, marking the onset of the high-speed Internet era. The emergence of Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) as a leading technology highlighted the shift from uploading to downloading.
In 1995 and 1996, Korea Telecom launched Mugunghwa satellites No. 1 and 2, followed by Mugunghwa satellite No. 3 in 1999, enabling the provision of telecommunications and broadcasting services. The new millennium witnessed a significant event on January 1, 2000, as Mugunghwa satellite No. 3 facilitated the live broadcast of the new millennium’s sunrise, a historic moment in Korean television history.
The year 2001 marked a transformative period as Korea Telecom rebranded itself as KT and successfully privatized in August 2002. This transition ushered in substantial improvements to both wired and wireless infrastructures. KT played a pivotal role in the Korean smartphone revolution by introducing the Apple iPhone in 2009, catalyzing a surge in wireless data usage. The company led in LTE infrastructure development in 2013 and accelerated the data-centric era with the introduction of data choice plans in 2015. KT showcased 5G technology and services at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and launched the world’s first 5G commercial service in April 2019.
Embarking on a digital transformation in 2021, KT transitioned into the digital platform company DIGICO. The company established a comprehensive value chain for its media content business, encompassing content planning, production, intellectual property (IP) acquisition, and distribution. KT expanded its growth initiatives into the financial services sector with offerings like K Bank and BC Card, along with venturing into the IT sector, notably KT Cloud.
Timeline
▲ 1981 = Established as Korea Telecom Corporation.
▲1984 = Developed TDX-1.
▲ 1984 = Launched Korea Mobile Telecommunications Corporation (now SK Telecom).
▲1987 = Established 10 million telephone lines nationwide.
▲ 1995 = Launched Mugunghwa satellite No. 1.
▲ 1996 = Acquired PCS business rights and launched Korea Telecom Freetel (KTF).
▲ 1996 = Launched Mugunghwa Satellite No. 2.
▲1998 = PCS subscribers exceeded 1 million.
▲ 1999 = Launched Mugunghwa Satellite No. 3.
▲ 2000 = Acquired HansolM.com.
▲ 2001 = Launched KTF, an integrated corporation.
▲ 2001 = Changed name from Korea Telecom to KT.
▲ 2002 = Transition to privatization
▲ 2009 = Introduced the first iPhone in Korea.
▲ 2013 = Established LTE infrastructure.
▲ 2019 = Commercialized the world’s first 5G.
▲ 2021 = Started transitioning to a digital platform company (DIGICO).
