North Korea's mobile network launches

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea - known to many as North Korea - has just launched its first official mobile phone service (as originally reported earlier this year). The 3G service currently just covers the capital, Pyongyang, although the network will be expanded to cover the rest of the country. [Sources: BWCS.com; WashingtonPost.com]

North Korea to get mobile phone service

BWCS.com reports that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea - known to many as North Korea - is to launch a mobile phone service, with Egypt's Orascom Telecom providing the network. Orascom's subsidiary CHEO Technology, which is 25%-owned by the government's Post and Telecommunications Corporation, will run the country's only network for the next four years, with non-exclusive use then continuing for a further 21 years. The country currently only has a private mobile network, which is used in the capital (Pyongyang) by government officials. [PDF press release]