IT 100 Special Report 2006 >

  THE INFOTECH 100 COMPANIES
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66

SK Telecom

(KOSE: A017670)

Korea

The largest mobile-phone operator in Korea, SK Telecom is always at the forefront of upgrading networks to hang onto its 51% market share of the home turf. But with virtually every citizen aged 15 and over already owning a cell phone, the company is venturing into new businesses to keep growing. Its data revenues jumped 35%, to $2.6 billion, in 2005, helped by its online music shop that has 700,000 paid subscribers and a wireless Internet portal that offers multimedia services such as video-on-demand, online games, and news feeds. It also set up an affiliate that is using SK's satellite to beam TV programs to the tiny screens of nearly 500,000 subscribers. The company also is expanding its reach overseas. In May, its U.S. joint venture with Earthlink launched a mobile service called Helio targeting heavy data users. Helio offers access to the social-networking site MySpace and lets users buy content, such as games, which can be delivered over the air to handsets.

Company Info

2005 Rank

Not Ranked

Sales*
($ Millions)

11,310.0

Sales Growth
(over prev. year)

1 %

Profits*
($ Millions)

1,975.7

Return on Equity

22.8 %

Total Return on Sales (12-mo.)

27.1

Share Price
As of 5/31/06

237.90

CURRENT
MARKET INFO

KOSE: A017670

No. of Employees

Industry Telecommunications
COMPANY WEB SITE >
*Trailing 12 months
Stock price data as of 5/31/06
DATA: Standard & Poor's Compustat

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Company Snapshot

SK Telecom provides wireless telecommunications services in Korea. The company offers cellular services using a network of code division multiple access technology. SK Telecom also develops and commercializes wireless Internet services. It also offers Internet content and services, as well as provides Internet access to its subscribers. Through its subsidiary, SK Teletech, the company designs, markets, and sells digital handsets under the brand name 'Sky'. SK Telecom, through another subsidiary, SK Telink, offers international telecommunications services, including direct-dial, as well as prepaid and postpaid card calling services, bundled services for corporate customers, voice services using Internet protocol, Web-to-phone services, and data services. As of June, 2005, the company had approximately 19.2 million subscribers. SK Telecom also provides telematic services that provide drivers with real-time location and traffic information. In addition, it offers commercial mobile phone services in the United States. The company was established in 1984 under the name Korea Mobile Telecommunications Co., Ltd. and changed its name to SK Telecom in 1997. The company is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.


Data provided by Capital IQ
 
Kim Shin Bae

Kim Shin Bae

President and Chief Executive Officer

Kim Shin Bae serves as president and chief executive officer of SK Telecom. He was director of the strategic business division of SK Telecom and head of the strategic planning group of Shinsegi Telecom. Kim served as executive vice-president in charge of information systems at Shinsegi Telecom since 2001. He serves as a director of SK Teletech, SK Telink, SK Wyverns, GNG Networks, and Korean Operations. Kim has been a representative director of SK Telecom since 2002. He serves as director of the Research & Management Science Society. Kim served as outside director of Hanaro Telecom since March, 2002. Kim received a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Seoul National University in 1978 and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania.



Executive Data provided by Capital IQ