Title: Estimating mobile network externality surcharges in Korea

Authors: Jongyong Lee; Duk Hee Lee

Addresses: Technology Strategy Research Division, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), 161, Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-700, Korea. ' Department of Management Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 335 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, Korea

Abstract: This paper aims to estimate the network externality surcharges necessary for successfully internalising externalities in mobile telephony through mobile termination rates in Korea. We assume mobile call demand to be a log-linear function instead of a linear function, and redefine most parameters, such as the externality factor and degree of leakage, to maximise their relevance to the Korean context. The results show that the appropriate level of network externality surcharges in the Korean mobile network is less than one won. Consequently, our study proposes that the policy for promoting the addition of new users in saturated mobile networks does not produce significant results.

Keywords: externalities; Korean mobile market; Korea; marginal subscribers; mobile communications; mobile penetration; mobile termination rates; network externality; network externality surcharges; universal service.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2011.042778

International Journal of Mobile Communications, 2011 Vol.9 No.6, pp.584 - 603

Published online: 04 Oct 2011 *

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