The complex temporal dynamics of an emerging infrastructure innovation: revisiting the ‘failure’ of the ‘successful’ innovation of Wireless Broadband (WiBro) in South Korea

Figures & data

Figure 1. Operators’ investment in WiBro (2006–2011). The graph has been created using <Tables 2–4> in Chung et al. (2011). Korea Communications Commission, 6.

Figure 2. Timeline of WiBro service 2006–2011.

Table 1. Comparison between WiBro, Wireless LAN and Mobile Telephony (MIC 2004).

Classification	Wireless LAN	WiBro	Mobile telephony
Application service	Wireless Internet	Wireless Internet	Voice and wireless Internet
Data speed/ subscriber	1Mbps and up	Approx. 1Mbps	Approx. 100kbps and up
Mobility	Walking	60 km/h and above^a	250 km/h and above
Terminal	Desktop, laptop, PDA	Laptop, PDA, Mobile phone	Mobile phone, some PDA
Cell radius	Approx. 100m	Approx. 1km	1 km∼3 km
Tariff system	Flat rate	Volume rate + Flat rate	Volume rate

^a Data transfer speed gradually decreases with the increase in device velocity above 60 km/h.

Figure 3. Anticipated and actual number of WiBro subscribers (2006–2011) (adapted from Lee et al. 2011).

Table

Organisation affiliation^a	Position	Field of Expertise^b	Interview	Date of interview
Samsung Electronics	Executive director	Marketing	1	4 Mar 2010
Samsung Electronics	Head of dept.	Mobile device	1	2 Sep 2009
Samsung Electronics	Manager	Mobile device	1	2 Sep 2009
Samsung Electronics	Manager	Mobile device	1	2 Sep 2009
Samsung Electronics	Senior researcher	Standardisation	1	29 Sep 2009
Samsung Electro-mechanics	Deputy head	System R&D	2	16 Aug 2009/12 Feb 2012
ETRI	Director	System R&D	1	31 May 2010
University (Telecommunications Technology Association)	Professor (Head)	Standardisation	1	15 Oct 2009
KT	Director	Standardisation	1	16 Oct 2009
KT	Manager	Network R&D	1	2 Apr 2010
KT	Assistant manager	Network R&D	1	2 Apr 2010
KT	Senior researcher	Network R&D	1	10 Sep 2009
KT	Director	Marketing	1	27 May 2010
SKT	Director	Corporate policy	1	13 Sep 2010
RAPA Korea Radio Promotion Association. (Thrunet)	Director (Director)	Spectrum licensing	1	26 May 2011
Department of Knowledge & Economy, Ministry of Information and Communication	Secretary	Government policy	1	14 Oct 2009
National Assembly Research Service	Head of Dept.	Government policy	1	21 Dec 2012
Hyundai Heavy Industry	Head of Dept.	Application	1	10 Feb 2010
Hyundai Heavy Industry	Deputy head	Application	2	5 and 10 Feb 2010
Hyundai Heavy Industry	Staff	Application	1	10 Feb 2010
Hyundai Motor Company	Manager	Application	1	19 May 2010
MODACOM	CTO	Mobile device	1	15 Jul 2010
SeAH (POSDATA)	(Chief engineer)	System R&D	1	28 May 2010

^a Prior affiliations and positions in brackets.

^b Field of expertise categorized by the researcher and generally complies to the role or department the interviewee belonged to.

Table

Event name	Date	Organised by
Next-generation Mobile Communication Technology and Industry Trend Seminar	20 August, 2009	Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI)
The 3rd Communication Vision	24 September, 2009	MegaNews, ZDNet Korea
4G Communication Technology Core Technology and Evolution Strategy Symposium	29 October, 2009	Korea Institute of Communications and Information Sciences (KICS)
The 4th WiBro Convergence Service Technology Workshop	4–5 March, 2010	Korea Institute of Communications and Information Sciences (KICS)
The 5th Communication Vision: Outlook on the changes in Mobile Ecosystem and Business in the 4G era	27 September, 2011	MegaNews, ZDNet Korea

Chung, I. J., J. H. Yeo, D. M. Lim, and J. Y. Kim. 2011. A Study on the Renewal and Pricing Policy for Radio Spectrums, Broadcasting and Communications Policy Research. Korea Communications Commission.

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MIC. 2004. WiBro (Portable Internet) Licensing Policy Scheme. Ministry of Information & Communications. Press release (in Korean).

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Lee, Y. S., J. R. Chung, S. H. Park, and S. W. Kim. 2011. A Study on Policies for the Activation of WiBro Market: Korea System Dynamics Research, 12.

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