Taiwan is projected to have 11 million 3G-service subscribers by the end of this year based on better-than-planned subscriber numbers the island`s top three providers have signed up so far.

To date, Far EasTone Telecom Co., Ltd. has signed up 2.2 million 3G subscribers, exceeding its original goal of having two million subscribers by the end of this year. Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. has also surpassed its goal, already having had three million subscribers, although it originally planned to sign up 2.8 million subscribers by the end of this year. Taiwan Mobile Corp. has made its 3G service available to 1.8 million subscribers.

Far EasTone`s executive vice president, J.F. Lee, estimated the company`s 3G subscribers to increase to 2.7-2.8 million by the end of this year. To speed up sales in the summer-vacation shopping season, the company has decided to increase subsidy on handsets of its 3G subscribers to NT$6,500-70,000 (US$216-233 at US$1:NT$30) from current NT$5,000 (US$166) a phone. The company plans to buy 1.3-1.4 million 3G phones throughout this year.

Industry watchers point out that once the number of the island`s 3G subscribers breaks the 10 million mark, the number will exceed the 2G subscriber number.

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.

Far EasTone`s executives pointed out that Huawei Technologies Co. of mainland China has filled 90% of Taiwan`s market of the cards.

Source:CENS