Global Mobile Corp (全球ㄧ動), which provides WiMAX services in northern Taiwan, aims to break even in the second half of next year after more than doubling its subscriber numbers to 250,000, a company executive said yesterday.
Led by former Hewlett-Packard Taiwan chief executive Rosemary Ho (何薇玲), Global Mobile is one of the most aggressive WiMAX -operators offering innovative services on the high-speed fourth--generation (4G) network.
“In addition to data packages, our business model is to explore as many new applications as we can [to boost usage],” Ho said, adding that Global Mobile also offers services to corporate clients, including IPTV operator Next TV Broadcasting Ltd (壹電視).
Global Mobile is now the biggest WiMAX operator in Taiwan.
Last year, Global Mobile landed a contract from the Taipei City Government to deploy hotspots and a 4G network so that residents could enjoy free wireless Internet connection. The telecoms operator is scheduled to unveil a new voice service on tailor-made smartphones later this year.
Global Mobile is in talks with smartphone maker HTC Corp (宏達電), telecoms equipment maker Gemtek Technology Co (正文) and other companies to supply handsets that allow users to switch between 3G and WiMAX networks.
In addition to subscription growth, the company expects average revenue per user to increase to NT$600 in the second half of next year, helping the telecoms operator reach a break-even point, Ho said.
She declined to disclose current figures for comparison.
Global Mobile offers a mini router for a minimum monthly fee of NT$429 which includes a two-year service contract for its subscribers to access the Internet using their mobile phone, laptop or tablet device.
Ho also expects Global Mobile subscribers to grow along with the expansion of its network coverage.
Global Mobile expects to expand its coverage from Greater Taipei to Taoyuan County later this month, paving the way for the WiMAX operator to boost its population coverage to about 70 percent by subscriber numbers, a threshold set by the National Communications Commission for WiMAX operators before they can seek mergers and acquisitions.
Ho yesterday played down speculation that her company intends to acquire Tatung InfoComm Co (大同電信), which received a license to offer WiMAX services in southern Taiwan, to expand its coverage and boost its user base.
“There’s a need to push for consolidation [among WiMAX operators] ... The NCC’s relaxation of the related rules will be key,” Ho said.
Such consolidation would be important in helping Taiwan catch up with the adoption of 4G globally, given the larger scale involved, she said.
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