Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
| A woman charges her car with Home & Service's electric charger in an apartment complex garage in Seoul on Sept. 8. Courtesy of SK Broadband |
By Kim Jae-heun
Home & Service, an affiliate of one of the country's largest broadband internet access providers, SK Broadband, is starting an electric vehicle charging business.
SK Broadband revealed on Wednesday that the firm has been chosen by the Seoul Metropolitan Government as its "2021 Electric Vehicle Outlet Charger Installation and Operation Assistant."
The electric vehicle outlet-type charger is a simple charging system that can easily be set up on a wall in the parking lots of apartment complexes or office buildings.
People can use the outlet-type chargers conveniently in apartment complex garages at night, which takes up less spaces compared to installing special electric vehicle charging stations. This convenience also solves the problem of charging spot shortages.
Another advantage of using outlet-type chargers is that people use them mainly at night when the usage of electricity is comparatively cheaper than in the morning or afternoon.
As an inefficient charging infrastructure is one of the obstacles to expanding the use of electric vehicles here, SK Broadband's electric charging business, especially in apartment complexes, is expected to contribute to the popularization of electric vehicles.
Home & Service was launched in 2017 to oversee SK Broadband's high-speed internet and IPTV installations as well as its repair services. It currently has 6.2 million customers in the country and will start electric charging services in apartment complexes in Seoul starting this month.
In particular, it is expected to become one of the most competitive companies in the electric charging business, based on its stable maintenance and management system for information and communication facilities, installed in 97 percent of apartment complexes in Seoul. Home & Service employs 5,000 skilled service personnel at 150 centers established nationwide.
The SK Broadband affiliate plans to implement real-time monitoring functions around the clock and 365 days a year to strengthen its customer service.
"We will do our best to provide optimal charging services to Seoul citizens through the existing communication infrastructure installations and operation capabilities accumulated via SK Broadband. The company has been chosen as the customer's No. 1 choice in the business for 11 consecutive years, and we will take the lead in SK Group's eco-friendly management practices by contributing to the expansion of the electric vehicle ecosystem," a Home & Service representative said.
