Glitches, limited service areas and poor battery life hampered its start, despite its flagship video camera phone service that allows users to talk "face-to-face."
The situation in Taiwan is somewhat more optimistic with all the five companies who have been awarded 3G licenses expected to go ahead with their construction schedule.
"One company is sheduled to begin providing 3G services next year," said Teng Tien-lai, chief of the transportation and communication ministry's telecommunications department, but he declined to name the operator.
In Australia, six 3G licenses have been issued but the Australian Communications Authority has not imposed any deadline for the rollout, saying "it's up to licencees to make their own decisions."
So far, only Hutchison Telecommunications Australia has announced plans to launch 3G services in the next quarter.
For Malaysia, state-owned Telekom Malaysia and top cellular operator Maxis Communications in July were awarded 3G licences for 15 years priced at 50 million ringgit (US$13 million) each.
The operators are to submit business plans by year-end, with the 3G system targeted for roll-out by 2004.
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