IPTV in Korea

What It Will Take to Become a Leading Industry Player

South Korea is one of the most advanced broadband markets, with availability and subscriber levels for high-speed DSL broadband that lead the world. However, IPTV adoption in South Korea has only started to pick up in recent years. Its stunted growth is a result of industry stakeholders’ conflicting interests. The South Korean government has stepped up its efforts to work with operators to introduce high-bandwidth broadband services and IPTV. Recent subscriber trends indicate that fiber and cable technologies are rapidly gaining traction in the market, and this sturdy growth is expected to propel IPTV take-rates. Despite growing market traction, the competitive atmosphere is also getting tenser as operators try to get a slice of that pie. So, what are the next steps that operators should be taking to retain their market share? This study examines the South Korean broadband and IPTV industry and the role of government, as well as the steps some key operators are taking to retain users and increase revenues. It provides an overview of the evolution of the South Korean broadband market, evaluates market influences (such as policies implemented by the authorities), and discusses the market outlook.