January 28, 2005 – (HOSTSEARCH.COM) – Internet service provider, EarthLink, Inc. and SK Telecom, a Korean mobile communications company, today announced an agreement to form a joint venture to market wireless voice and data services in the U.S.
The joint venture marks SK Telecom's first ever strategic partnership to enter the U.S. market to grow its worldwide subscriber base. SK Telecom has more than 18 million customers and over 50 percent of the mobile services market in South Korea. The Seoul-based company offers wireless voice and data offerings including interactive gaming, video streaming and location-based services.
EarthLink has more than five million subscribers. EarthLink is the first major ISP to offer a permission-based spam fighting feature and other innovative tools that block pop-up ads, spyware and phisher sites. EarthLink was also the first major ISP to become an MVNO, beginning with a wireless data service in 2000, and then launching a wireless data/voice solution in 2004.
"This partnership reflects 30 years of combined experience that EarthLink and SK Telecom have gained anticipating and delivering innovative Internet applications and wireless services," said Garry Betty, EarthLink president and chief executive officer. "SK-EarthLink has the potential to reshape the mobile communications market by meeting the growing demand of U.S. consumers who are currently underserved by existing voice-oriented wireless operators."
"SK Telecom is committed to shaping the information and telecommunications world of the 21st century. This joint venture is a continuation of SK Telecom's commitment to provide the most innovative world-class mobile communications technology," said Shin Bae Kim, president and chief executive officer of SK Telecom. "The wireless and Internet worlds are colliding, and neither will be the same again," said EarthLink founder and director Sky Dayton who will serve as chief executive officer of the SK-EarthLink joint venture. "In South Korea, kids on the street are using their mobile phones to listen to music, watch TV, video conference, locate their friends and access the Internet - as well as make voice calls – as opposed to the U.S. where the mobile experience is primarily about talking on the phone. Americans are living in the past. Utilizing emerging 3G networks and harnessing the explosive growth of Wi-Fi, SK-EarthLink will take the wireless experience in the U.S. to a new level."
Under the terms of the agreement, EarthLink and SK Telecom will each have a 50 percent ownership stake in SK-EarthLink. EarthLink and SK Telecom will each appoint three members to the six member board of directors.
Subject to customary conditions, the closing under the definitive agreement is expected in March 2005. In the coming months, SK-EarthLink will announce details concerning its 2005 timetable for product launches.
The current business plan for SK-EarthLink provides that the initial joint venture capitalization will satisfy future funding requirements until the joint venture is generating sufficient free cash flow to fund continuing operations. The business plan also contemplates that the joint venture could generate approximately 3.0 million net subscribers and revenues of approximately $2.0 billion by 2009. This business plan reflects EarthLink's and SK Telecom's recognition of the opportunities presented by the SK-EarthLink joint venture. However, the business plan is not intended by EarthLink as a projection of future results.
