Wed, May 13, 2009 - Page 12 News List

Far EasTone takes stronger interest in enterprise custom

By Lisa Wang  /  STAFF REPORTER

Far EasTone Telecommunications Co (遠傳電信), the nation’s third-largest telecom operator, said yesterday it plans to double revenues from enterprise customers within three years with fixed-mobile convergence services for businesses.

Combining enterprise revenues from its fixed-line arm New Century InfoComm Tech Co (NCIC, 新世紀資通), Far EasTone’s enterprise revenues grew by double-digits, compared with the same period last year, NCIC president Jeffey Gee (紀竹律) said.

“The weakness in macro economy does not slow businesses’ usage of telecom services. Instead, they are increasing communications with customers, suppliers and employees using telecom technologies,” Gee said. “Increasing cross-strait trade exchanges also help.”

NCIC primarily provides firms such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電) and convenience chain store Taiwan FamilyMart Co (全家便利商店) with Internet phone service and Internet data centers (IDC), combining a virtual private network and Internet security service.

Far EasTone and NCIC together hold more than 10 percent of the nation’s NT$80 billion enterprise business market, behind Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信), which has roughly 70 percent, NCIC said.

“We hope to expand our market share to around 20 percent within three years,” said Daniel Chang (張嘉祥), a vice president of NCIC’s enterprise solution business unit, adding that “we hope to double enterprise revenues” by the end of 2011.

Far EasTone and NCIC want to expand revenues from corporate customers to around NT$15 billion from about NT$7 billion this year, NCIC said. Last year, Far EasTone reported NT$62.52 billion in consolidated revenues.

Gee also said Far EasTone would not proceed with a proposed alliance with China’s biggest telecom, China Mobile Ltd (中國移動), until the National Communications Commission (NCC) revises the law to allow for such investment.

Gee was named to lead a task force for the tie-up.

The NCC has said it has no plan to lift the ban on Chinese investment in major telecom firms.

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