Orascom’s North Korean operation adds 20,000 subscribers

North Korea’s nascent mobile operator, and the country’s first private player, is reported to have added 20,000 subscribers, having launched at the end of last year. The customers are reported to include foreigners allowed to work in the country.

Last year, Orascom Telecom, which owns 75 per cent of the mobile network joint venture through its CHEO Technology subsidiary, said that it expected to sign up an initial 100,000 subscribers within the first few months of commercial launch.

Network coverage, which includes 3G, has been extended beyond Pyongyang and now reported to include the main road running up to the northern city of Hyangsan. National coverage is expected by 2012.

The remaining 25 per cent of the network operator is owned by the state owned Korea Post and Telecommunications Corporation.

Mobile communications were only introduced into North Korea in 2003, but their use was initially restricted to government officials.