Koryolink
 |
|
| Joint venture | |
| Industry | Telecommunication |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Pyongyang |
|
Area served
|
Pyongyang, and five additional cities and eight highways and railways. |
| Products | Telephony, Mobile Network Access |
| Revenue | US$ 5.8 million |
| Parent |
VimpelCom Ltd. (75%) Korea Posts and Telecommunications Corporation |
| Website | intranet Homepage Kwangmyung |
Koryolink (Korean: 고려링크, styled as koryolink) is a North Korean wireless telecommunications provider. A joint venture between the Russian company VimpelCom Ltd., earlier Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding (OTMT) and the state-owned Korea Post and Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC), Koryolink started in 2008 and was the first 3G mobile operator in North Korea. It offers service in Pyongyang and five additional cities as well as along eight highways and railways. Phone numbers on the network are prefixed with +850 (0)1912. Despite being a 3G network, there is no Internet access (only Intranet access) for domestic users although as of April 2014, mobile internet access for foreigners with limited speed or traffic amount was available at a comparably high price.
Orascom Telecom Holding was awarded the licence to establish a 3G mobile network in DPRK in January 2008. Koryolink has deployed its 3G network to initially cover Pyongyang, which has a population of more than 2 million, with an ambitious plan to expand its coverage to the entire country.
At network launch in December 2008, the network had 5,300 subscribers. Orascom reported 432,000 North Korean subscribers after two years of operation (December 2010), increasing to 809,000 by September 2011, and exceeding one million by February 2012. By April 2013, subscriber numbers neared two million.
In 2015 subscriber numbers exceeded 3 million and the network was profitable. However the Government of North Korea refused permission to transfer profits from North Korea to Orascom and even started a second carrier (Byol) to compete with Koryolink. As result Orascom in its financial result reported, that it lost control over Koryolink's activities.
Only calls within North Korea are allowed on Koryolink. However smuggled North Korean phones have been used just over the border in China to access international lines.
On February 26, 2013, Koryolink launched its internet service for foreigners. On March 29, 2013, Koryolink restricted Internet service for foreigners.
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Wikipedia