IMJADO, South Jeolla Province ― KT, South Korea’s largest telecommunications company, has realized its “GiGAtopia” vision on this island off Korea’s southwest coast.

After developing the necessary infrastructure for faster Internet connections over the last three months on Imjado, the telecom giant has enabled the island’s citizens to easily access information, view high-quality content and receive health care services.

KT said Tuesday that the establishment of the so-called GiGA Island here was one of its social contributions to Imjado, which is part of the province’s Shinan archipelago. It was also in line with efforts to reduce the social gap through telecommunications technology.

It added that the GiGA superfast service aims above all to increase the value of people’s lives, as well as the island’s economy.

“We will aim to lead in gigabit technology with GiGA,” said Choi Yeong-ik, executive vice president of KT’s corporate relations unit.

With 14 affiliates, KT has invested 400 million won ($370,000) to set up the GiGA network, through which people on this island can watch ultrahigh-definition content. Its mobile health care solution enables early detection of diabetes, and Imjado children can connect with Korean and foreign students via the network for cross-learning and knowledge sharing. KT will operate and maintain the network free of charge over the next three years; then the provincial government will provide financial support for running the system.

KT introduced its GiGAtopia last May, envisioning an Internet network faster than existing Wi-Fi, broadband and Long Term Evolution connections.

KT CEO Hwang Chang-gyu then outlined his grand plan for GiGAtopia, comparing it to Germany’s autobahn, and explained the meaning of GiGA ― giving power to consumers.

“Our goal is to create a ‘telecom utopia’ through the GiGA infrastructure,” said KT spokesperson Oh Young-ho.

“We will continue to lay the foundation for GiGA even in places that seemed impossible such as in secluded mountain valleys and towns near the country’s demilitarized zone.”

By Park Hyong-ki (hkp@heraldcorp.com)