Taiwan On Global Track To 3G Success

16th March , 2004

ASIA : Taiwan is poised to fully exploit the mass market potential of 3GSM, the global next generation wideband mobile multimedia standard, said the GSM Association the world trade association for mobile operators - at a press conference in Taipei today.

As part of a global wave of 3GSM launches in 2004, Taiwan is gearing up to deliver cost effective and compelling multimedia services on the 3GSM (W-CDMA) platform, an evolution of the world leading GSM system, which today serves more than one billion people worldwide.

“Around the world 3GSM momentum continues unabated, thirty-six networks have already launched, and a further 40 are expected to launch by end 2004,” said Craig Ehrlich, Chairman of the GSM Association.

“Massive operator investment and the supply of 3GSM handsets coming on stream from leading vendors, combined with a wealth of exciting mobile content and a fiercely competitive market are all key factors that will rapidly unlock Taiwan’s mass market,” he added.

Taiwan was an early mover in the world of GSM, the first networks launched in 1995, today it has an astonishing 113 percent market penetration – the highest in the world.

3GSM builds on GSM’s unique heritage of seamless international roaming – the ability to make and receive calls using one handset and one mobile number across more than 200 countries. Worldwide, GSM users make more than one billion roaming calls a month.

“Global roaming and interoperability, massive value and variety of products and services are the unique hallmarks of a global open standard, the fruits of which Taiwan, its people and its industry already enjoy with GSM,” said Rob Conway, CEO and member of the board of the GSM Association.

“GSM is the world’s biggest commercial cooperative – a mobile telephony eco-system,” added Conway. “The global reach and breadth of the GSM industry keeps handset, infrastructure and application costs down, benefiting Taiwan’s operators and their customers - these economies of scale help explain Taiwan’s massive level of market penetration.

“3GSM continues the seamless global roaming culture while sustaining scale cost benefits,” Conway concluded.

The GSM Association visit to Taipei this week includes a private meeting with Jen-Ter Chien, Director-General, Directorate General of Telecommunications and with the GSMA’s Taiwanese member operators.

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