Taiwan Expected to Pass 11 Million 3G Subscribers by Year-End
Taiwan is expected to exceed 11 million 3G subscribers by the end of this year, based on faster than expected sales by the local network operators. The China Economic News Service reports that Far EasTone has already signed up 2.2 million 3G subscribers, exceeding its original goal of having two million subscribers by the end of this year.
Amongst the other operators, Chunghwa Telecom has three million subscribers, compared to an original target of 2.8 million subscribers by the end of this year. Taiwan Mobile has made its 3G service available to 1.8 million subscribers.
A recent report from Taiwan's Institute for Information Industry (III) that there were 7.96 million 3G subscriptions at the end of the first quarter of this year - representing 32.5% of the total base. It is presumed that the figure has now passed the one-third mark since the figures were compiled. The report cited strong promotional packages from the network operators for the growth in 3G subscriptions, including heavily subsidised 3G mobile phones. The sales also benefited from speed increases on some networks following the launch of HSDPA and expanded 3G coverage.
Far EasTone also plans to double the numbers of its 3G and 3.5G subscribers using network cards to around 140,000 by the end of this year from current 70,000-80,000 subscribers. The company estimates subscribers counting on the cards to connect them to the service will rise to 400,000 by the end of this year from current some-200,000 subscribers.
The company also noted that China's Huawei has supplied some 90% of the PC card sold in Taiwan.
On the web: Institute for Information Industry - China Economic News Service
Posted to the site on 21st July 2008
