ASIA : SK Telecom successfully launched the world's first 3rd generation mobile service based on CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO network in February of 2002, and began the June service that provides multimedia content such as VOD and MOD in November of 2002.

Inset : Bang Hyung Lee, head of SK Telecom's Business Group, is shown delivering a gold key to the one millionth subscriber named Hyung Uh Kim(on left).

The company achieved a 1 million June service subscriber base, only eight months after it's commercial launch.

No other telecom company in the world (including the U.S., Japan, and Europe) has achieved an one million subscriber base in 3rd generation service. It is of particular note that NTT DoCoMo, that launched a WCDMA service called FOMA one year earlier than SK Telecom's June service, only had 658,700 subscribers as of the end of July. This proves that SK Telecom is a telecom company with outstanding global competitiveness in 3rd generation services.

The June service was launched in November of 2002 with the aim of filling market demands for 3rd generation multimedia services, and to explore 3G service as the company's new growth engine in the telecom industry. Currently, the service is offering a wide range of creative multimedia services to the customer that break through the limits of conventional mobile phone services.

SK Telecom's June service, as a true multimedia service that has a different concept from that of 2nd generation service, allows customers to enjoy VOD, MOD, video phone, multimedia message, Internet and TV broadcasting, as well as voice communication through the 3rd generation network. The company has defined this service as a premium brand, and carried out strategic marketing approaches that focus on media features in which content leads the market. In this regard, through the June service, SK Telecom launched high capacity data, and content like real-time TV broadcasting, music video, live bell sound, and mobile movies. These are services the prior wireless Internet could not offer. These services have become very popular among customers soon after their launch.

Notably, SK Telecom commercialized the world's first video phone service based on a synchronized mode, in June of 2003. This solidified the company's leading position in 3G service, and completed the introduction of the advanced concept of IMT-2000 services. Moreover, in line with the launch of June service, SK Telecom has been carrying out a variety of promotion activities. These include call rate savings through reservation downloading service, free data call offerings, and varied service rate selections that fully reflect the customers' needs. At the same time, the company has facilitated customer access to the June service, by developing a 3G wireless network that covers more than 90% of the entire subscribers in 81 cities nationwide.

Securing 1 million June service subscribers has particular significance, because this was achieved during a time when June service-enabled handsets were limited to only 4 models (SCH-V300, SCH-V310, SCH-V330, IM-6100). Different models of June service-enabled handsets will be launched by the 1st part of next year. This will provide an opportunity to expand the range of customers' choices, thereby greatly increasing the number of subscribers.

"The achievement of 1 million June service subscribers has laid the groundwork for opening a new chapter in the high-capacity wireless Internet service field, both nationally and internationally. Moreover, "This gave us an opportunity to get rid of any uncertainty and doubt about the success of 3G service" commented Bang Hyung Lee, head of SK Telecom's Business Group,

SK Telecom held a ceremony to celebrate the achievement of 1 million June service subscribers by giving a 37 gram gold key and flowers to Hyung Uh Kim, the one millionth subscriber to June service.

Through the successful deployment of June service, SK Telecom has solidified its position in the global mobile communications industry. The company plans to strengthen its market leadership position in 3rd generation data service by keeping in close communication with customers, increasing brand value, and developing strategic content of new business models.