South Koreans could see 1Gbps web connections by 2012

The world at large still has aways to go before it catches up with Sweden's Sigbritt Löthberg, but South Korea's hoping to take a baby step in that direction by 2012. According to a new proposal by the Korea Communications Commission, it's aiming to make broadband ten times faster in its nation in under three years, and according to the plan, it'll take some $24.6 billion in order to make it happen. The central government is looking to cough up around a third of that, with the rest having to come from private telecommunications companies. We're told that the initiative could create upwards of 120,000 jobs, and citizens will be able to kiss their 100Mbps connections goodbye as they replace 'em with 1Gbps alternatives. The KCC hopes the move will enable more interactive TV services to be delivered along with additional e-commerce and home schooling; South Korean residents, however, are probably just stoked about lowering their ping times.

[Via GigaOM]

[tronixnews @ Feb 2nd 2009 6:58AM]

Yes, but for how long? It's been brought to my attention we're all scheduled to kick the bucket in the year 2012.

[dextro @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:02AM]

With 1Gbps you could download porn faster then you could see it. So no matter for how long you had it you would still die a happy camper!

[OneLove @ Feb 2nd 2009 2:25PM]

Am moving to Korea for hot tech models and 1Gbps Internets!

[smellyKen @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:46PM]

And take a look at the UK... we are so far behind with technology that i just want to cry.

[Luca @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:09AM]

Screw it, I'm moving to South Korea.

[Aussie @ Feb 2nd 2009 10:10AM]

Uber fast internet AND hot Korean promo girls... score!

[ghex88 @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:06AM]

By 2012, Americans maybe will finally have their 3.5G connection nationwide. If they are lucky.

[ghex88 @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:09AM]

Look on the bright side, at least the number of G is bigger LOL.

[Jakob @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:16AM]

Heh 1 Gbps wide available broadband is great, but 10Mbps is pretty low I guess. Denmark and Sweden just got 14Mbps at 3 :)

[Shinigami @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:25AM]

The more Ms/Gs the better! Same as with megapixels xD

[Magallanes @ Feb 2nd 2009 8:24AM]

@ghex88 you are so damn right : 3.5G > 1g. Epic win!.

[Andrew @ Feb 24th 2009 3:15AM]

@Magallanes

Actually... I believe S. Korea has like 5G cellphone networks.

Which means 3.5G < 5G

[BobTurbo @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:08AM]

Super-fast broadband is going to be an essential element to future living and the future competitiveness of counties in terms of their efficiency and innovation. In Australia, we may.. by 2012... have 12mpbs ADSL..............

[Aussie @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:16AM]

Snap. You beat me to it. Pathetic effort Australia =] While I am extatic to see Telstra out of the bidding process, it appears that the other bidders may not even have access to the funds to build out 12Mbit/s. In that case we'll be back to square one. Spending $15bil on FTTN is ridiculous, it'll be obsolete by the time its built. Get rid of the copper. K, thx =]

Don't even get me started on the nation-wide censorship filter (whoops, I meant to say 'think of the children' filter)...

[Adderz @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:39AM]

You both beat me to it...

256k connections are still offered by every ISP...most with 5gb or less of downloads that have to last an entire month...

But we will spend millions on consultants and meetings before ANY decision is made.

[Adderz @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:41AM]

Oh and ive just been shaped....which means i get to surf the internet at 64k...whoopie!

Some pages wont even load and my top download speed it 4kb..awesome...

[tristank @ Feb 2nd 2009 5:01PM]

Try being in Tasmania, AUS, Until they get another link down here there will be no more roll out of ADSL2+, top speeds available are 8mb in "some" exchanges.

We are the real backward ones

Oh yeah, and I hope the kiddy fiddler filter dies in hell, our internet is slow enough without a pathetic attempt at censorship.

[loosely_coupled @ Feb 2nd 2009 6:03PM]

The obvious problem with Australia is that most services are not based there, so even 100mbps connections to each house will be worthless since everyone gets bottlenecked on the backbone. What they need to do is run some direct fiber connections to the USA..

[psfour @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:08AM]

Britain want 2MB for everyone by 2012. shows the difference doesnt it. what a crap government we have over here.

[psfour @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:10AM]

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/news/digital-britain-report-promises-up-to-2mb-broadband-for-all-by-2012-and-hints-at-indefinite-licences-to-bring-in-the-mobile-operators-499.html

Just to prove it.

[Robotochan @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:19AM]

Dear South Korea,
Please could you donate any spare 100Mbit equipment to the bandwidth poor nation of Britain?

Thank You,
The People of Great Britain

[GingerFox @ Feb 2nd 2009 8:00AM]

yes i wants some bandwidth, stuck in the country side in the uk getting 512kb IF im lucky, its fricking shite

[Limp Man @ Feb 2nd 2009 8:10AM]

2mb in 2012 mean free for all......
prince harry told me... ;)

[Oli D @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:03AM]

Yeah, screw our unique blend of democracy, shaped by more than 500 years of global success, lets vote in a totalitarian socialist dictator who then places a spell of mass propaganda and censorship over our nation so that we can get fast internet that no-one will be able to afford.

Or maybe thats already begun...

[Xero Xenith @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:36AM]

I've got a comfy 8Mbit/s connection here in London, just out of reach of Virgin fibre. It's coming, guys.

[G @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:41AM]

Oli.D you need to learn the difference between South Korea and North Korea. As for Britain's internet connection, having to wait for youtube videos to load is the worst!!

[Sam @ Feb 2nd 2009 10:19AM]

Ah crap, does that mean my 50mb virgin connection is going to be downgraded?

I would be surprised if Virgin doesn't do it patented double-for-free a few times before 2012 and get me running on 200mb.

I started off on 2mb then 4mb, then 10mb then 20mb and now 50mb all upgraded free.

I don't really need to go any quicker however but i wouldn't say no to richardo upgrading it for no reason.

[Ian @ Feb 2nd 2009 10:23AM]

No no, don't stop him from talking. It's funny.

[wywywywy @ Feb 2nd 2009 10:41AM]

If Virgin didn't have the ridiculous throttling policy, they would have been alright.
But as it stands, you can't even use your full 50mbps speed for more than half an hour per month.
And let's not forget, its £50 a month!!

[Oli D @ Feb 2nd 2009 4:04PM]

fuck i just realised that im a dick.

sorry south korea.

[tristank @ Feb 2nd 2009 5:07PM]

not 50 pounds?? for 50 pounds here in australia you can get 60 gig adsl2+ download from our main provider, bigpond. imagine putting up with that. AND they count uploads! Some countries dont know how good they have it.

I dream of having 50mbit unlimited for that price.

[Simon @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:09AM]

And what is the UK planning? 2Mb by 2012. It's quite pathetic!

[Down @ Feb 2nd 2009 8:00AM]

That is kind of unfair. I assuming they're aiming to get every household in the UK to get at least 2mbit connection to the internet. That is pretty good. And for those who want higher speeds, they can if they want to, the option IS there. Take a look at Virgin Media, where you can get 50mb broadband and a phone connection for £35/month. I'll admit, it is quite concerning that they write 'up to 50mb'.

[superhobo @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:09AM]

:O

[Down @ Feb 2nd 2009 8:00AM]

haha, that was supposed to reply to Simon's comment right above.

[GingerFox @ Feb 2nd 2009 8:19AM]

ye virgin are doing 50mb BUT only to those in there cable area which as of now is hardly anywhere:(

[orangemonlah @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:20AM]

even 100Mbps is good enuff for me... its crazy

[Big Al @ Feb 2nd 2009 6:02PM]

100Mbps? I'm using 10Mbps and I'm more than happy with it. I wanted to save $10/month. 100Mbps is $20 in Korea :)

[Jayson @ Apr 7th 2009 12:31PM]

Where I'm at right now in the Caribbean it's

[Stafford @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:20AM]

It's all relative.
I have a 40Mbs connection here in Seoul, (up and download) and pinging a Korean server maxes out at 39.9Mb/s.
Same connection to a Japanese Server about 25Mb/s.
To New Zealand where I do a lot of work, 15Mb/s if I'm lucky (NZ just don't have the thru put for much more.)
Still, to be able to download a 700MB linux .iso in 4 minutes for $15/mnth is pretty good.

[stafford @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:22AM]

And PS3 updates still take for ever!

[Aussie @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:24AM]

'Linux ISO'

*cough*

[ScooterDe @ Feb 2nd 2009 4:05PM]

enjoy. I had 100Mb/s FTTH in Japan with a 1Gb/s node for the street to guarantee that speed. And I loved it!
Now I remain puzzled why, in Germany, my cable is asynchronous. 25Mb/s is the best I can get, but the real challenge is a ludicrous 150Kb/s upload speed. At least it is not capped or my family would rebel.

[Shawin @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:29AM]

In Mauritius, by 2012, we could see 2Mbps adsl, hopefully...

[Aaron @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:34AM]

*sigh*

We'll never see something like that in the US as long as we live. The FCC is too busy focusing on other matters....

[Aussie @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:44AM]

Excuse me, but Janet Jacksons b00bs are *clearly* more important than fast broadband.

[SwedeX @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:40AM]

Well, 1 Gbps service has been available here in Japan since October for 5,985 yen/month, about $60...

http://www.hikari-one.com/gigatoku/index.html

[Félix @ Feb 2nd 2009 8:19AM]

ME... WANTS.... CRY..

Seriously dude you had to do this to me ?

[DP @ Feb 2nd 2009 9:57AM]

Thanks! That website was really helpful!

>_>

[Nelson @ Feb 2nd 2009 7:41AM]

I'm torn... The US government spent $800 Billion (in today's $) to build the national highway system during the "New Deal"...

I'm not a big fan of the "stimulus" package, but I could see a whole lot of people liking the idea of dumping a few hundred billion into nationwide high speed internet.