Number portability to get early launch

Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信) and Far EasTone Telecommunica-tions Co (遠傳電信), the nation's two leading telephone service providers, have gotten the go-ahead to implement the "number portability" policy ahead of the government's deadline, which they believe will help them promote the new third-generation (3G) technology.

The Directorate General of Telecommunications has set an Oct. 15 deadline for number portability, after which users will be able switch to any of the five telecom operators and retain their phone numbers.

"The approval makes it much easier for subscribers to adopt 3G services because they can keep their original numbers while using more advanced technology," said Shih Mu-piao (石木標), a spokesman for Chunghwa Telecom.

Third-generation technology is designed to provide e-mail, high-speed Internet and live sound and image broadcasts to compatible handsets.

Chunghwa Telecom and Far EasTone launched the high-speed 3G services in the middle of last month, and expect to attract 100,000 and 50,000 users, respectively, by the end of the year.

At the end of last month, the two firms applied for the government's approval to launch number portability ahead of deadline and received official notice on Monday after passing the network tests.

Lagging its rivals slightly, Taiwan Mobile Co (台灣大哥大), the No. 3 player, submitted its application last week and expects to secure approval soon.

"When we get the green light, subscribers for TransAsia Telecommunications Inc (泛亞電信) and Mobitai Communications Co (東信電訊) can upgrade to our 3G services and use the same number. We think this is one step ahead of competitors as the service spans different operators," said Josephine Juan (阮淑祥), director of the public affairs division at Taiwan Mobile.

Taiwan Mobile acquired southern Taiwan-based TransAsia in July 2001 and merged with Taichung-based Mobitai in June last year.

However, Vibo Telecom Inc (威寶電信), a latecomer in the domestic telecommunications market, said that the government's approval of the early launch of number portability will lead to unfair competition. The company invested NT$7.7 billion (US$240 million) to bid for a 3G license.

"When we bid for the license, relevant regulations prohibited operators from launching the number portability policy before Oct. 15. But later, new rules changed the stipulation, affecting our original assessment and increasing operational risks," a Vibo official said on condition of anonymity.

Despite this, the official said the company remains confident in its 3G services -- which will be launched in October -- as its 3,600 base stations will provide dense coverage of every part of Taiwan, as opposed to just certain urban areas, as its bigger rivals offer.