According to the Ministry of Information and Communication, eight telecommunication companies, including KT Corporation and Hanaro Telecom Inc., bid for licences to offer internet-based telephony services in South Korea. Dacom Corporation, Onse Telecom, SK Networks, Dreamline, Enterprise Networks, and SK Telink were also among the bidders. After reviewing the qualifications of the bidders, the ministry plans to select internet telephony operators by the end of June. Last September, the ministry cleared guidelines to internet telephony services, unveiling a plan to assign a prefix for a new batch of internet-based telephone numbers. Under the new prefix 070, consumers will be able to acquire an 11-digit telephone number, allowing them to receive phone calls over the internet.
