Global Mobile postpones WiMAX launch

Global Mobile Corp (全球一動), one of the winners of a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) license, has decided to postpone its commercial launch to early next year, a company executive said yesterday.

Global Mobile had planned to roll out next-generation WiMAX service in December this year, matching most players' launch schedule, including First International Telecom Corp (大眾電信).

"We will start commercial launch early next year at the earliest," Global Mobile chairwoman and chief executive Rosemary Ho (何薇玲) said at a media gathering.

Ho said Global Mobile would wait for a more favorable macro environment to launch the service.

The company will unveil its WiMAX service only after three major conditions are met -- more devices to facilitate WiMAX connection, faster speeds to ensure smooth data transmission and lower base station costs.

The National Communications Commission required WiMAX service providers to launch their commercial service within 15 months of obtaining their license in July last year and will only grant a one-year extension.

"The price is the crucial part," said Stephen Tsai (蔡木源), a vice president at Global Mobile. "The base station price is way too high now."

Building a base station would cost approximately NT$2.5 million (US$79,900), Tsai said, adding that NT$1.5 million would be a more reasonable price.

Global Mobile plans to start commercial operations in Taipei City and Taipei County, Tsai said.

To reach the required coverage of 70 percent of the population in the Greater Taipei area, Global Mobile has to build at least 500 base stations, he said.

Overall investment in WiMAX could reach NT$10 billion, with half of the amount tagged for infrastructure development, Ho said.