To seek growth opportunities outside the highly-penetrated Korean market, SK Telecom is now join the fray in producing and selling mobile phones in China. The Korean's joint venture with two Chinese companies, Datang Telecom Technology and Tiandi Group Telecom Industry, expects to produce 500,000 to one million handsets in 2005 and at least three million units by 2008.

 

The joint venture will primarily cultivate branded business in the Chinese market, targeting the high-end segment. The first such model will likely be launched before the Chinese new year in February.

 

SK Telecom plans to make an investment of at least US$20 million in the joint venture throughout 2005. It will also sell the majority of handsets initially produced in China.