While Japan and South Korea have consistently led the world in 3G with both already reaching 40% penetration, carriers in other countries should not just 'blindly' follow their lead as they have not necessarily been big winners in terms of ARPU. According to Analysys, mobile carriers in Japan and South Korea have come up with service innovations that are worth replicating, but undue focus on technology and innovation as well as rapid migration to 3G have not resulted in ARPU growth. Instead, insufficient attention to basic services such as voice and messaging have brought ARPU down.
Lessons from the Japanese and South Korean Mobile Markets: Handsets, Services, Content and Pricing
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