The term ‘Convergence’, existed only as concept, has become a reality in telecommunication industry this year. Regulator for broadcasting and telecommunication launched and IPTV service, a leader of convergence industry, began in earnest. And convergence between wire and wireless telecommunication has been going on this year ◇ Realization of convergence = With launch of BCC early this year, telecommunication industry took a giant step toward convergence. BCC stresses the reinvigoration of convergence industry, and strong proceed with IPTV service. In September, it selected KT, SK Broadband and LG Dacom as IPTV operators.Based on these policies, KT began the first IPTV commercial service on November 17. IPTV has been free IPTV with VOD level due to opposition from terrestrial broadcasting stations, but heralded the opening of convergence age with terrestrial service and many contents services.SK Broadband and other carriers and SO will join in this move.There has been fast convergence between wire and wireless industries. SKT acquired SK Broadband in February and since then has been leading such move. Based on this, the industry has generated many wire and wireless combined products.With the launch of new administration, CEOs of KT, KTF were charged with corruption, which caused dispute over purchase system and practice of telecommunication equipments. ◇ The emergence of new operator is the hot issue = Coupled with frequency allocation next year, the emergence of new operator will be the issue.BCC announced that it will allocate relocated frequencies and Wibro frequencies mostly to new comers, so there will be heated work to get allocated.The emergence of the 4 carrier through MVNO is also hot topic. As new carriers will emerge, whether effectiveness of ‘Telecommunication bill discount through competition’ stressed by BCC can be recognized is another hot issue.In particular, who will be the head of KT and with this, how fast merge between KT and KTF would go on will be the issues.Besides, the dispute over forced merge of 010 numbers will be severe. The government said that it will consider forced combine if 010 usage is over 80%. It will over 80% early next year and there will be opposition, including from 01X users.Pak, Min-soo, the head of frequency policy at KISDI said, “In next year, frequency relocation and Wibro number allocation will begin, the emergence of new carrier will be the biggest issue. We should watch whether competition would increase as government intended.”