SK Broadband has rolled out 2.5 gigabit per second (Gbps) internet in South Korea, the company announced.

The fixed-line subsidiary of wireless carrier SK Telecom said it achieved the speed using GPON technology as an alternative to Ethernet.

GPON can provide up to 52.5Gbps speed with one cable, or one core, and host 128 subscribers, SK Broadband said.

Homes don't need to change existing cables. When multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets, and AI speakers are used, each device will get a maximum internet speed of 1Gbps. On average they will enjoy a speed of 833Mbps, three times that of competing 333Mbps, the company said.

The firm will also guarantee of max speed of 50 percent in a service level agreement, it said, a rise from the previous 30 percent.

Current coverage is 40 percent but it will invest 1 trillion won going forward to expand this to 80 percent by 2020.

SK Broadband will roll out 5Gbps and 10Gbps internet services in the second half of the year, which will also use GPON technology.

Rival KT is also planning to roll out 10Gbps internet in September.

In March, the government announced that it will fund 10Gbps internet projects to boost national rollout.

South Korea is also planning to roll out 5G wireless internet next year.

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