KT regulator in conflict over satellite TV

 By Cho Mu-hyun

KT SkyLife said Wednesday that it will take all legal measures to overturn a ruling by the nation’s telecom regulator that its dish convergence solutions (DCS) service is illegal.

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) announced that the broadcaster’s latest service transgressed its business boundaries established by the law. DCS technology transmits digital broadcasting through the Web, without a disk-shaped antenna.

KT SkyLife launched the DCS service on July 4, which prompted protests from cables businesses who claimed that it was too similar to Internet protocol television.

The Korea Cable Television & Telecommunications Association (KCTA) turned in a formal complaint to the KCC on July 2, which instigated the government agency to look into the matter.

Both parties under the dispute filed documents to the telecom regulator, but the government ultimately favored the cable businesses

The KCC ordered KT’s broadcasting subsidiary to stop activities in order to acquire new subscribers. It also asked 12,201 current subscribers as of Wednesday to cancel the service.

“The KCC deems the DCS service to be a hybrid of satellite broadcasting and IPTV, and exceeds the limitation set by the Broadcasting and Radio Regulation Law,” the regulator said in statement “(KT SkyLife) was practically providing IPTV broadcasting without approval.” The KCC ordered KT’s broadcasting subsidiary to stop activities in order to acquire new subscribers. It also asked 12,201 current subscribers as of Wednesday to cancel the service.

KT SkyLife claims the decision is in favor of cable companies, which are the overwhelming market leaders in broadcasting taking fees.

“SkyLife will react against KCC’s unreasonable decisions in every legal way possible,” said KT SkyLife in a statement. “We cannot hide our sadness and surprise at the KCC’s decision to accept the logic of the cable businesses without taking the consumers stance into consideration.”

“We doubt whether the KCC has the will to advance the technology and integration of broadcasting and telecommunications here.” 

- Korea Times