Starting on Monday, people will be able to determine the quality of their cellphone services at any location using a new Web site from the National Communications Commission.
The Web site, called Information System of the Mobile Communication Service (行動通信電臺服務資訊系統), has a map showing information on the coverage and reception for both second-generation (2G) and third-generation (3G) cellular network services for all five telecom carriers in Taiwan proper.
The information, however, will not be available for Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu.
COLOR-CODED
The quality of reception will be represented by colors: green for “excellent,” yellow for “good,” orange for “fair” and white for “poor.”
Meanwhile, users can target a certain location and check the reception there.
They can also see if the 3.5G wireless service is available in that location.
The commission said there were many white spots for the 3G service because the 3G infrastructure has yet to be established in several areas.
The information on the map will be updated every six months.
The NCC said the system was created to provide useful information to consumers.
The telecoms carriers — Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, Far Eastone Telecommunications, Vibo Telecom and Asia Pacific Telecom — first provided maps of service coverage, which were simulated with software that could integrate coverage data with the corresponding geographical information.
The carriers then conducted tests to reconfirm the paths of the signal transmission, which helped them adjust the information shown on the map.
OTHER FACTORS
However, the commission, warned consumers that the actual quality of mobile phone services could be affected by various factors, such as the sensitivity of a user’s mobile phone and the number of users sharing the network simultaneously.
Reception may also be bad if the transmission of signals is interrupted by buildings or large vehicles, the commission said.
The commission also emphasized that any communications could take place only when the cellphones and base stations can receive the signals transmitted by each and when the intensity of the signals are stronger than the sensitivity of the cellphones.
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