Mr. A, who recently replaced his old mobile phone with new 3G one, called WCDMA, is occupied with dissatisfaction because its call connection is problematic. Although it is known that the 3G provides better call quality and lower price than 2G, Mr. A has a difficulty in making a call in the building.

"I have a lot of situations to make a call in the building. But, this new mobile phone often fails to do it. It was cheap. But, now, I regret purchasing a 3G mobile phone" said Mr. A.

Recently, mobile communication providers have endeavored to popularize the 3G mobile phone. But, due to the problem of its call connection, they have earned users' dissatisfaction as well.

It is not wrong to say that the 3G provides better call quality. However, it must be noticed that there is a difference between 'call quality'cand 'call connection' WCDMA service-G service-makes high-speed communication possible by using high levels of frequency and improves the call quality. However, all has noting to do with call connection. As the level of frequency becomes higher, the power of transmission penetrating the building becomes lower. This phenomenon could create shadowy areas in which the power of electronic wave is too low to make a call.

Insufficient number of base stations
To solve this problem, specialists have recommended building more base stations. The number of base stations for the nation-wide scale of 3G service, however, is still too insufficient to cover the high level of frequency.

SKT has built a nation-wide network for the 3G service by installing 3G equipments in 2G base stations. KTF has done the same with SKT. Though SKT does not open the number of base stations to the public, it is estimated that the number would be slightly over 28,000, considering what SKT has stated that 3G base stations have been built in 99% of 2G base stations. KTF had 22,000 base stations in August. The number of 3G base stations that two mobile communication providers have built is still too small to provide the 3G service. As the level of frequency becomes higher, more base stations are needed.

Particularly to SKT, the problem is more serious. Many 2G base stations operated by SKT are located in remote rural areas as well as in urban areas. This results in the relative lack of the number of base stations in urban areas, which makes worse the problem of shadowy areas.

According to a SKT person concerned "Until now, we have not built enough base stations to provide a full service of 3G. Considering that the 3G service is at the early stage, some inconvenience would not be avoided. However, the problem will be solved as soon as possible, as we sharply increase the number of base stations."

However, a research specialist of a mobile communication provider said, "Because SKT has undertaken the WCDMA project since 2005, to say that it is at the early stage is likely to be irresponsible. Though SKT has rapidly upgraded the 3G service, partly responding to KTF's aggressive strategy, users' dissatisfaction with the service also has been increased by SKT's aggressive promotions."

Dissatisfaction caused by immoderate 3G promotions
It seems that mobile communication providers have immoderately promoted the 3G service in the immature conditions, for instance, the lack of networks. In particular, SKT has gained 3G users by offering immoderate promotions to 2G users who mainly subscribed to LGT.

According to a business person at an agency of SKT "We had offered some promotions-free mobile phone and services-to users who changed their services from LGT to SKT. Through these services, many users changed their service provider to SKT."

However, the dissatisfaction of users who changed to SKT's 3G service has increased. According to a user who recently changed his provider to SKT, "I purchased the 3G service with the promotion offering free mobile phone, heard that the call quality of 3G phone is excellent, and even recommended it to my colleagues. However, I regret it now because the phone is not working well in the building"

A consultant for mobile communication providers said, "In recent years, mobile communication providers have aggressively promoted the 3G service. However, there is no way of measuring call success rate that could provide users a useful guide to utilize the 3G service. Prior to immoderate promotions, the increase of the number of base stations, based on the proper measurement of call success rate, should be preceded. For a while, users should be noticed by agencies that the call success rate is low when it is used in the building."