Taiwan market: Vmax, FET and Vee Telecom to start WiMAX services by year-end 2009

Taiwan-based WiMAX operators Vmax Telecom, Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET) and Vee Telecom Multimedia will begin commercial operations of their WiMAX services by the end of 2009, while Global Mobile plans to start operations in the beginning of 2010, according to the companies.

First International Telecom (Fitel) has also restarted procurement for WiMAX deployment, and expects to complete its WiMAX infrastructure in Hsinchu City by the end of February 2010, market sources noted.

Taiwan WiMAX operators: Current operating status, Oct 2009

Company
Service starting date
Service location
Number of base stations
Services and plans

Tatung InfoComm
Apr 09
Penghu Islands
221
15,000 subscribers already paying NT$699 (US$21.6) a month; average consumption of bandwith by users at 5GB currently

Jul 09
Kaohsiung City

Vmax Telecom
Year-end 09
Taipei City
250
Aiming to attract 160k-180k consumer clients and 30,000 business clients initially

FET
Year-end 09
Taichung City
>100
Targeting broadband and notebook users

Vee Telecom
Year-end 09
Kinmen Island
17
Targeting IPTV clients when commencing operations in Greater Taichung

Global Mobile
1Q10
Greater Hsinchu
100
To expand capital in 2010

Fitel
End-March 2010
Hsinchu City
50-60
Still constructing WiMAX networks