SK Telecom has launched the world's first handset-based next-generation HSDPA network in cities across southern Korea using wireless broadband technology from LG-Nortel, a joint venture of LG Electronics and Nortel.

SK Telecom's network is the first to provide HSDPA performance on handsets as well as data cards - ensuring high-speed, broadband wireless services are available to subscribers using either a handset or laptop computer. The services include high definition video-on-demand, MP3 streaming, multi-user mobile gaming, video calling, multimedia messaging and a host of other high bandwidth services. SK Telecom's service is branded "3G+" and will initially cover 25 cities across the country, with roll out to an additional 59 cities planned by the end of the year.

"The launch of our new brand "3G+" marks the beginning of the world's first handset-based HSDPA service. The brand will help familiarize users with HSDPA as we deliver a more sophisticated mobile lifestyle for our customers," said Bang Hyung Lee, Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer of SK Telecom. "We believe the widespread commercial service of HSDPA will bring new opportunities to SK Telecom as we accumulate the know-how of the more global W-CDMA technology-based cellular service in addition to our fully developed CDMA based service. And LG-Nortel has been instrumental in helping us achieve this success in a very short timescale"

Nortel's HSDPA technology is helping SK Telecom reduce operating costs while delivering high-quality communications through more efficient use of its UMTS network. The technology is a key component in supporting SK Telecom's "3G+" services, ensuring the bandwidth and quality of service required to support new service offerings such as "high quality video call" and "ultra speed data transfer".