August 16, 2004
Mobile Phones Drive Out Street Phone Booths
Payphone service operators are struggling with shrinking sales as mobile phones become universal in Korea, reports The Korea Times.
"Despite its falling demand and profitability, much of the public think the payphone service must go on for the benefit of the needy, the Korea Information Strategy Development Institute (KISDI) said yesterday.
According to the KISDI, European countries such as Britain, France and Italy have designated the public phone service a universal service and have clear state-ruled principles regarding maintenance of the service. By contrast, the United States and Canada have no such rules, leaving all the business affairs in the hands of operators themselves."
Related articles from around the world:
-- Belgium to dismantle 4,000 phone booths
-- Phone booths in England are fighting for their lives
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