South Korea’s SK Telecom saw a 23 % rise in net profits for Q3 2009 assisted greatly by demand for mobile data services. The profits stood at $ 522.3 million or 618.8 billion won. In the preceding quarter, SK has managed profits of 53.4 billion won. Net profit increased 25 % to 415.9 billion won or $ 350.8 million as compared to 333.6 billion won during corresponding quarter last year.

Revenues were up by 5.4 % to 3.57 trillion won. The profits were also helped by cost savings in marketing activities achieved by the firm. While on a yoy basis the marketing expenses are seen at a 15 % increase to 834 billion won, the same are at a 12 % drop on a sequential basis.

Revenues from wireless data services rose 7% to 662 billion won and this helped the ARPU to rise by 2% to 9,191 won.

"Market stabilization in the third quarter is expected to continue until the year-end," SK Telecom's chief financial officer, Jang Dong-hyun, said in a statement. "Under such circumstances, SK Telecom will refrain from excessive marketing and deploy effective marketing policies."

South Korea is one of the top markets for broadband services including both for  fixedline as well as mobile data services.