Taiwan Operator Aims to Double 3G Subscriber Base

Taiwan's Vibo Telecom expects to resume 3G handset subsidies to help drive its subscriber base and reach its break-even target for the end of this year. The company aims to double its subscriber base to 1.2 million customers during 2008.

"Vibo will focus on boosting subscribers and revenues this year," Vibo president Chang Feng-hsiung told the Taipei Times newspaper.

Chang Feng-hsiung joined Vibo Telecom two weeks ago - after spending 20 years at rival operator, Chunghwa Telecom. As part of the drive, the company expects to spend approximately NT$3 billion buying up to half a million mobile phones this year for its new sign-ups. The company anticipates 3G handset prices will fall during the year, reducing the cost of acquiring the new customers.

He declined to comment on whether Vibo would cut rates to win subscribers though.

According to the Mobile World, Taiwan ended last September with some 22.7 million subscribers, of which just over 5 million are using a WCDMA network and about 1 million are using a CDMA2000 1X network.

On the web: Taipei Times - Mobile World

Posted to the site on 8th January 2008