Lee Young-Tark, CBO of new KT-backed H∞H Healthcare, says so-called big data will play a major role in mobile health as mobile networks collect more and more information from patients. “In the future, we expect a big growth in the big data relevant market as (health information system) medical and personal data are collected through remote management”.

Young-Tark was describing to Mobile Health Live the growth prospects for healthcare following the launch H∞H Healthcare, in which mobile operator KT holds a 49 percent stake, at the end of July.

The launch announcement promised this year to offer services that support the hospital information system for small and medium-sized hospitals. It also talked about entering international markets. Intriguingly, the announcement talked about the joint venture improving global healthcare “through the establishment of a network of hospitals”, an unusual strategy for a mobile operator.

However, Young-Tark would supply no more information on either domestic of foreign launches for the joint venture, which is 51 percent owned by Korea’s Yonsei University Medical Center. The interview with Young-Tark was conducted via email.

But he did supply more information on the plans to develop a regular health-check system called U-Wellness. The service will focus on employee welfare, said Young-Tark when it launches both in Korea and internationally in 2013.

SK is targeting approximately healthcare revenues of KRW800 billion (US$700 million) to KRW1 trillion by 2016.