The government says it has licensed three telecom firms to launch new wireless Internet services.

The Ministry of Information and Communication said Thursday that SK Telecom, KT Corporation and Hanaro Telecom will be allowed to provide commercial services of the new technology, dubbed "WiBro," from next year.

The new system will allow wider and faster broadband Internet access through mobile phones and other portable devices at cheaper prices.

The commercial viability of the mobile broadband Internet service has yet to be proven but officials said users could browse the Internet in a vehicle moving at speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour.

WiBro is a homegrown technical standard developed using US technology giant Intel Corp.'s WiMax wireless platform.

The communication ministry hopes WiBro will draw more than nine million subscribers and annual revenues of three-point-seven trillion won or some three-point-six billion U.S. dollars within six years of launching.