Source: http://tech.sina.com.cn/t/2008-05-22/10242210688.shtml
Morning Post reporter Zhou Jing Lu

Last month, North Korea's domestic ban on the general population of mobile phone use is just beginning to lift from the capital, Pyongyang. Now, North Korea is likely to spend the people will soon 3G phones.

Headquartered in Egypt, the Middle East's largest mobile operator in Horace kom (Orascom) announced a 20 they had in Korea, a subsidiary CHEO Technology JV Company's network, the successful completion of the first call, test network using WCD-MA technology , the next step the network will cover the entire country, and is expected to launch commercial services later this year.

"Lus kom the company's public relations manager of Lassa? Anze tripod? Muhammad to the Morning Post has confirmed the news, saying the company will be based on North Korea's per capita GDP of the issue price of mobile phone development.
Three cities, including Pyongyang should first try to

North Korea's mobile service will use the WCD-MA specifications, support video calls and high-speed data transfer. This is the third-generation mobile communications technology, which is commonly known as 3G mobile phones.

It was disclosed that North Korea will soon launch new 3G network will have 10 million users. Aulas kom NaguibSawiris CEO, said in a conference call, the service is started from the three major cities, and then suspend the service, the company will evaluate its impact. The company's goal over the next 12 months, the initial investment on the network 200 million U.S. dollars, followed by two years, annual investment of 100 million U.S. dollars. The total investment reached 400 million U.S. dollars.

The project will CHEO joint venture companies. 75% of the shares of the company belongs to Horace kom companies, other 25% of the state-owned Korea Post and Telecommunications Company. CHEO has been a North Korea late last month to provide communication services for 25 years the license, the license allows CHEO during use to provide services to its customers nationwide, including former four-year exclusive rights to operate 3G.

"CHEO will be available in Korea for 25 years of communications services, including the previous four years will be North Korea's only operator to provide 3G services. Four-year period of co-operation will enable companies to grow rapidly and become Korea's leading communications brand. "Aulas kom the company's public relations manager, Mohammed has told reporters China Morning Post said.

Mohammed said that they will provide consumers with the network for the North Korea's small-scale voice and data services, and will launch the second half of a complete set of business services. "Our practice staff have reached Pyongyang, but the specific release date has been set." He said.

In 2002, the South Korean company had planned to build CDMA network in Pyongyang, but in the U.S. diplomatic pressure forced to cancel. Orascom is the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, one of the largest operators, based in Egypt, with more than 65 million users, in Egypt, Algeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Zimbabwe and other States, which operates mobile networks.

"Have confidence in cost recovery"

North Korea in November 2002 had been launched GSM mobile phone service, covering the capital Pyongyang and the surrounding areas, but in 18 months after the ban the general public to use, and began to recall the unauthorized cell phones, most foreigners are not allowed in North Korea the use of mobile phones. North Korea's handset prices, network and call costs are extremely high.

The success of joint ventures to get North Korea's wireless operators license Horace Malcolm, the company did not too worried about the investment prospects. "We believe North Korea is a huge potential for development of the market. We the audience for the 23 million, of which 67% of 15-year-old to 64-year-old users." Mohammed told reporters on the Morning Post, "We have recovered 400 million U.S. dollars for the future amount of investment confidence. "

He also said the company will be based on North Korea's per capita GDP to develop mobile phones offering price, but still being finalized. "We will be based on the actual situation in North Korea's per capita GDP to discuss, but there is no result."