Korea Telecom IPTV

Korea Telecom (KT) is a leading telecommunication operator in Korea offering a broad range of telephony, data and Internet services. The company was established in 1981 by the Ministry of Communications (presently the Ministry of Information and Communications) and was privatised in 2002.

In Q1 2007, the operator classified its digital TV services under two categories, “Megapass TV” and “Megapass TV Click”. Prior to 2008, these were on-demand services only, and did not include live TV (TV services were subject to a 12-hour delay). This was due to a regulatory block on telecommunications companies carrying broadcast TV. Korea’s government prepared legislation to allow real-time broadcasting via IPTV, although this process was delayed several times. Rollout of the full service began in October 2008.

On 8 April 2009, KT rebranded its home service. The operator will offer its existing MegaPass, MegaTV, home phone, and Internet phone services under the new brand name, QOOK.

On 30 December 2010, KT launched its communications and broadcast satellite “Olleh 1”. This move will enable KT to provide high quality HD and 3D satellite broadcast services, with a 25 per cent increase in satellite broadcasting output across the Korean Peninsula, for the next 15 years from early February 2011.

In January 2011, KT again rebranded its services under the name of Olleh.