Dacom, the nation's second-largest fixed-line telecom company, has been finally allowed to enter the nation's local call service market, accoriding the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Dacom's entry, slated for January 2005, will bring the number of local call service providers to three, with KT Corporation, the former state telephone monoploly, and Hanaro Telecom, the country's second largest internet operator, currently competiting in the saturated market.

The Ministry also revealed that SK Telink, a unit of SK Telecom, will be awarded the nation's fifth long distance call service license, following KT, Dacom, Onse Telecom, and Hanaro. The new telecom licenses will be issued in July.