The number of mobile Internet service subscribers in Korea has swelled to 14 million users by June 2001, approximated on the number of terminal devices sold. In spite of the large number of wireless Internet terminal devices already delivered to the market, the end-users are still not fully utilizing the mobile Internet service. The revenue of mobile Internet services has been very poor and the current service remains at a primitive level with phone bell, character downloads, simple games, etc.
In line with efforts to boost the market, policy introducing open access to the wireless network has been under discussion in the Korean mobile telecommunications industry. The policy, which directs mobile operators to allow mobile portals other than their own ones to access their network and subscribers, is expected to vitalize mobile Internet market through competition among portals. This study analyzes the impact of the effect in terms of the welfare of mobile Internet users and the profit of mobile contents providers. We also cover the influence of mobile Internet fee on anticipated results of the policy.