Comments on: Orascom 3G wrap up http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/12/19/orascom-3g-wrap-up/ News and analysis of the North Korean economy Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:05:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Opaquit http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/12/19/orascom-3g-wrap-up/#comment-136345 Opaquit Sun, 03 May 2009 16:28:53 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/12/19/orascom-3g-wrap-up/#comment-136345 I just found and uploaded an interesting video from the launch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRWyexKtrwQ I just found and uploaded an interesting video from the launch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRWyexKtrwQ

]]> By: North Korea rolls out 3G… « Radical Instrument http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/12/19/orascom-3g-wrap-up/#comment-124029 North Korea rolls out 3G… « Radical Instrument Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:12:34 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/12/19/orascom-3g-wrap-up/#comment-124029 [...] rollout of a 3G wireless network in North Korea. The best wall-to-wall coverage for this is over at North Korean Economy Watch. Price tag for the network is $400M. Some interesting comparisons:  a 3G build project in Quebec [...] […] rollout of a 3G wireless network in North Korea. The best wall-to-wall coverage for this is over at North Korean Economy Watch. Price tag for the network is $400M. Some interesting comparisons:  a 3G build project in Quebec […]

]]> By: Simon http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/12/19/orascom-3g-wrap-up/#comment-123989 Simon Sat, 20 Dec 2008 05:26:53 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/12/19/orascom-3g-wrap-up/#comment-123989 It's been possible to hire mobile phones in Pyongyang (for foreigners of course!) for the last few years, these are the phones running on the previous network installed by Loxley telecom of Thailand, the cost is high however but they do work outside of Pyongyang in other urban areas including those on the east coast far from the capital. Glass-cladding of the Ryugyong is going at a fairly brisk pace with one side of it looking around 20% complete and what I have heard is that the aim is to make the lower 30 or 35 floors usable as a hotel (maybe some offices too) by the all-important big date of April 15th 2012 and to have the top 5 or so revolving restaurants running by then as well while the intervening 70 or so floors will be clad but not operational by then. I have to say it is an odd feeling to see lights on in that building at night, makes it look like Sydney at the end of Mad Max 3 (yes, the one with Tina Turner), interesting times for that building. I'll be interested to see in February (when I will next visit) if phones are available to buy and how much they cost, if you can use a foreign handset, if calls can be made abroad, rates and tariffs, restrictions on the network, and also if the wireless internet speculated about at the Potonggang hotel will in fact be in existence (wireless existed at the Yanggakdo hotel during the New York Philharmonic trip in February this year but was turned off as soon as the press corps left) It’s been possible to hire mobile phones in Pyongyang (for foreigners of course!) for the last few years, these are the phones running on the previous network installed by Loxley telecom of Thailand, the cost is high however but they do work outside of Pyongyang in other urban areas including those on the east coast far from the capital. Glass-cladding of the Ryugyong is going at a fairly brisk pace with one side of it looking around 20% complete and what I have heard is that the aim is to make the lower 30 or 35 floors usable as a hotel (maybe some offices too) by the all-important big date of April 15th 2012 and to have the top 5 or so revolving restaurants running by then as well while the intervening 70 or so floors will be clad but not operational by then. I have to say it is an odd feeling to see lights on in that building at night, makes it look like Sydney at the end of Mad Max 3 (yes, the one with Tina Turner), interesting times for that building. I’ll be interested to see in February (when I will next visit) if phones are available to buy and how much they cost, if you can use a foreign handset, if calls can be made abroad, rates and tariffs, restrictions on the network, and also if the wireless internet speculated about at the Potonggang hotel will in fact be in existence (wireless existed at the Yanggakdo hotel during the New York Philharmonic trip in February this year but was turned off as soon as the press corps left)

]]> By: benms http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/12/19/orascom-3g-wrap-up/#comment-123947 benms Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:17:59 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/12/19/orascom-3g-wrap-up/#comment-123947 I also found a very recent image of their other project for Pyongyang, which seems to be continuing at quite a speed... http://www.flickr.com/photos/kernbeisser/3117212145/ I suppose its still too early to say whether the building will actually be a hotel- or just look like one. I also found a very recent image of their other project for Pyongyang, which seems to be continuing at quite a speed…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kernbeisser/3117212145/
I suppose its still too early to say whether the building will actually be a hotel- or just look like one.

]]> By: A Reader http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/12/19/orascom-3g-wrap-up/#comment-123933 A Reader Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:36:21 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/12/19/orascom-3g-wrap-up/#comment-123933 Great round-up - thanks! Another interesting tidbit I saw was the claim that the original network was shut-down not because of the train explosion, but due to NK fears of US psychological warfare operations, after NK military analysis of the Iraq war. See here: http://www.donga.com/fbin/output?n=200812170018&top20=1 (and please correct me if I've misinterpreted it.) Great round-up - thanks!

Another interesting tidbit I saw was the claim that the original network was shut-down not because of the train explosion, but due to NK fears of US psychological warfare operations, after NK military analysis of the Iraq war. See here: http://www.donga.com/fbin/output?n=200812170018&top20=1 (and please correct me if I’ve misinterpreted it.)

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