Korea Telecom to merge with KTF?

The head of Korea Telecom, the country's top fixed-line and broadband provider, has said full integration with its mobile unit, KTF, would be "desirable". The deal is still still far from being closed, and the company's spokesman Lee In-won said: "We are still considering it and no decision has been made on details such as timing." Apparently, both investors and analysts have long expected KT to absorb KTF, the country's number 2 mobile carrier and 53% owned by KT, to better compete with rivals and lead the market with next-gen bundled services. The problem, though, is that anti-trust authorities may not like the idea. While, KT and KTF do offer products that combine mobile services with landline, broadband and Internet TV — similar products will be soon available from the leading Korean mobile operator - SK Telecom. We'll... [read full story]