Govenrment and Business Environment Case Study

Broadband: South Korea vs US

OR

Abstract:
South Korea was leading the broadband revolution with its high-speed broadband networks. The initiatives by the government, its policy on competition, the PC bang culture and above all, other social and demographic factors had equally contributed to the broadband penetration in the country. With the high-speed broadband networks, South Korea was embarking on new applications of broadband that would improve the lives of the people apart from contributing to the country's GDP (gross domestic product). On the other hand, the US, which is said to have pioneered Internet technology in the world, is far behind in the broadband race. The government policy on competition had been hindering competition in the country, and had encouraged Bell Inc. to enjoy a monopoly for several years.

Pedagogical Objectives:

• To discuss the factors that had facilitated the growth of broadband in South Korea and the causes that had been impeding the growth of broadband services in the US
• To analyse the broadband penetration in South Korea and the US.

Keywords : Broadband penetration, Competition policy, Bell's monopoly, PC bang culture, Service-based competition, Facilities-based competition, Dial-up networking, Broadband policy, Telecommunications policy, Technology Management Case Study, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Korea Telecom (KT), Cyber homes, Telemedicine, US Federal Telecom Act 1996