South Korea launches working 3G+ HSDPA network (like I know what this means)

This is one of those stories that I offer as a public service for people who come here to keep up with Korea-related topics and issues even though I really have only the vaguest grasp of what it's saying. I mean, I know what the individual words mean, but the overall topic is beyond me.

I get that it means that here in the Republic of Korea this means even more advanced wireless networks and better data transmission, but beyond that, I'm at a loss. It's like when I have to read soccer-related stories about how this team or that team is likely to do well in the World Cup: my eyes glaze over even as my brain processes each individual word.

At any rate, judging from the first sentence, I gather this is something positive. If anyone would like to explain it to me like I'm a four-year-old (a four-year-old medical sociologist), feel free to run loose in the comments section.

South Korea has moved even further ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to mobile data transmission and wireless networks. While everyone else is still scrambling to get effective 3G networks in place, Korea has become the first country to have a working commercial 3G+ HSDPA (High Speed Data Packet Access) network. SK Telecom has rolled out the network in 25 cities across the country. They hope to sign up 300,000 subscribers to the new service by the end of the year.

HSDPA offers a maximum downlink speed of 14.4 Mbps, though it will not perform at that rate to begin with. The speed targets include 3.6Mbps in early 2007, 7.2Mbps by sometime later in 2007, and the full 14.4Mbps in 2008. SK Telecom has currently announced one phone, the Samsung W200, which will provide downlink speeds of 1.8Mbps. They will release four or five more HSDPA phones by the end of the year, starting with an LG offering in June.

Got it? Korea going to 3G+ HSDPA in twenty-five cities...300,000 subscribers by the end of the year...14.4 Mbps maxium, with that as a target by 2008...phones to be released soon...

Okay, my brain is full now. Time for Minesweeper on the PDA.

The consumer in me is going, "Wow, that's three sexy models." The medical sociologist in me is thinking, "Gee, she'd better have someone take a look at that mole." Preferably me.