South Korea has as soon as once more postponed a choice on whether or not to approve Google’s request to switch the high-precision map knowledge it has on the nation’s geography to its worldwide servers.
In February, Google had requested approval from the Korean National Geographic Information Institute to deploy a 1:5,000 scale map on its app within the nation and in addition switch that knowledge to its servers overseas, a spokesperson for the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport confirmed to TechCrunch.
The authorities was purported to finalize its choice inside 60 days, by mid-May, however the deadline has now been moved to August 11 as they’re nonetheless in discussions, the spokesperson stated.
This is Google’s third request to South Korea on this subject, following earlier requests in 2011 and 2016. The tech big at present makes use of a 1:25,000 scale map within the nation that features factors of curiosity and satellite tv for pc photos, in response to media studies. A 1:5,000 scale high-precision map would provide a extra detailed view that would come with even the narrowest streets.
When South Korean officers rejected Google’s request in 2016, they stated an approval would solely be granted if the U.S. tech agency units up a knowledge middle in South Korea. The nation additionally requested Google to blur delicate places, like nationwide safety services, on its maps for safety functions.
Google has not but stated if it might arrange a knowledge middle in South Korea. The firm operates an array of information facilities world wide, together with in Asian international locations equivalent to Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia.
Data restrictions by the federal government have impacted the efficiency of Google Maps and Apple Maps in South Korea. Foreigners and vacationers typically battle to navigate with Google Maps as a result of restricted info and languages supported, typically resorting to utilizing native apps that don’t assist many international languages.
Local navigation apps equivalent to Naver Maps, TMaps and Kakao Maps are hottest amongst native customers. These apps provide map knowledge at a scale of 1:5,000, and due to this fact, rather more info and element. Naver Maps, launched in 2002, has about 27 million month-to-month lively customers, whereas Kakao Maps and TMaps have round 11 million and 24 million MAUs, respectively.
Google didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
