A local consortium seeking to win a license as a new mobile operator claimed Thursday that the evaluation process to pick a new player is unfair and largely swayed by existing bigger players.
  

Korea Mobile Internet has been working to earn approval from South Korea's telecom regulator to become the country's fourth mobile carrier, but its previous efforts have been rejected six times.
  

KMI said it is concerned as members of key panels involved in the evaluation processes hold "close relationships" with existing mobile carriers, which remain negative toward the rise of another local rival. There are three mobile carriers operating in South Korea -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp., and LG Uplus Corp.
  

KMI is a consortium of mobile virtual network operators, or mobile service providers, which rent networks from the existing carriers.
  

"In order to overcome such concerns, examiners should come from state-run organizations or prominent universities," KMI said, adding that the government must make efforts to abate such suspicions.
  

The government is currently gathering applications from local firms through Oct. 30 for a new mobile carrier. The winner, possibly to be announced before December, will commence its service in 2017.
  

A handful of other companies are seeking to join the battle with KMI, including Internet Space Time, whose two previous bids have also failed.
  

"It is a stereotype to think that only a conglomerate-level firm can become the fourth mobile carrier," said Kong Jong-ryul, who heads KMI.
  

He said that the consortium's financial health is stable, and that it is capable of making an investment of 1.8 trillion won ($1.54 billion) immediately. (Yonhap)