Google, Facebook, Neflix must ensure network and service stability in Korea

Google, Facebook, and Netflix are among the six major multinational content providers that will face liability for the maintenance of their network and service stability under a revised telecommunications business act enforcement decree in Korea.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said on Monday the three foreign companies along with three Korean IT and content providers, Naver, Kakao, and Wavve, are obligated to provide measures to ensure their service stability under the new rule.

These companies subject to the rule also known as the Netflix Law attract an average of more than 1 million users per day and account for more than 1 percent of Korea¡¯s internet traffic.

The companies are required to provide services without discriminating the type of user devices or Internet service operators. Measures should be taken in advance to avoid technical errors or traffic congestion. They should also provide an online or automatic response system (ARS) service to address user inconvenience.

With the new rule going in force, Google and Facebook must appoint a domestic agent to represent their business because they do not operate locally.

The ministry said the designation was notified to each company last week and a final list will be completed in early February based on feedback from the companies.

The ministry plans to provide detailed guidelines this year by collecting industry opinions to ensure clarity and transparency for such measures to secure the stability of value-added telecommunications services in Korea.

[¨Ï Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]