IT&E announces partnership with Korea's SK Telecom

In a move that will help to fast-track much-anticipated next-generation wireless technology here, IT&E is partnering with Korean telecommunications giant SK Telecom.  IT&E President and CEO James Oehlerking announced the move in a news conference Monday.

He says as the 5G technology gets more complex, there is synergy in partnering with South Korea's largest carrier, announcing, "Higher data speeds, lower costs for service, and their leading edge technology rollouts will allow us to bring it in to Guam and the CNMI much quicker than we could have done by ourselves."

He says next generation technology will mean even faster data speeds to accommodate future innovations in media, gaming and the Internet of Things. "What we see is just continued growth in individual data consumption and this just positions us to be able to address whatever the future requirements are going to be," he stated.

For SK Telecom, they see an opportunity in the huge growth in Korean tourism to Guam. The tie up with IT&E enables them to can offer their customers who visit here much more cost effective roaming packages.  SK is now the second largest shareholder in IT&E after the Philippine-based Delgado family, with an investment of some $33 million.

"It buys them a minority position within the company and a seat on the board of directors, and again, this is a long term partnership that we're establishing with them," Oehlerking said.

Oehlerking says the deal with the South Korean-based company did not require FCC regulatory approval.