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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| North Korea to offer mobile internet access | North Korea to offer mobile internet access |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| North Korean mobile phone provider Koryolink is planning to launch a 3G data service for foreign visitors and residents from abroad. | North Korean mobile phone provider Koryolink is planning to launch a 3G data service for foreign visitors and residents from abroad. |
| Egyptian telecoms firm Orascom, which is a partner in Koryolink, estimates that more than 1 million North Koreans use mobile phones. | Egyptian telecoms firm Orascom, which is a partner in Koryolink, estimates that more than 1 million North Koreans use mobile phones. |
| They will not be able to use the new service, according to reports. | They will not be able to use the new service, according to reports. |
| Orascom launched a 3G phone network inside North Korea in 2008, but users can only use it to make phone calls. | Orascom launched a 3G phone network inside North Korea in 2008, but users can only use it to make phone calls. |
| International calls, including calls to South Korea, are banned. | International calls, including calls to South Korea, are banned. |
| In January 2013 the government began allowing foreign visitors to bring their own mobile devices into the country with them for the first time. | In January 2013 the government began allowing foreign visitors to bring their own mobile devices into the country with them for the first time. |
| Following a recent visit to the notoriously closed country, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt wrote in a blog post that North Korea's decision to isolate itself "is very much going to affect their physical world and their economic growth." | Following a recent visit to the notoriously closed country, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt wrote in a blog post that North Korea's decision to isolate itself "is very much going to affect their physical world and their economic growth." |
| He added that it would be "very easy" for 3G internet access to be enabled on the existing service. | He added that it would be "very easy" for 3G internet access to be enabled on the existing service. |
| Current internet access is extremely limited for locals, with most people only having access to a small number of state-run pages. | Current internet access is extremely limited for locals, with most people only having access to a small number of state-run pages. |
| North Korea expert Scott Thomas Bruce previously told the BBC this comprises mainly "message boards, chat functions, and state sponsored media". | |
| "The system they've set up is one that they can control and tear down if necessary," he said. | "The system they've set up is one that they can control and tear down if necessary," he said. |