Taiwan to Auction 3G Licenses by Year EndFive licenses for the third generation (3G) mobile phone operation in Taiwan will be auctioned and the winners are expected to be announced by the end of this year, according to Taiwan's local media here Tuesday.Industry players will have to turn in detailed applications, including business plans and a report on how much money they expect to earn from running a 3G network. Applications will be handed out in October and the companies that qualify to take part in the bidding process will be notified by November, the Taiwan media quoted the telecommunications authorities as saying. The authorities will allow license winners to make payments over a period of 10 to 15 years, instead of collecting a lump sum payment right away. The 30 percent of the bidding price would be collected initially as a deposit and the rest would be paid off in an as yet undecided fashion. Taiwan's four major mobile telecom service providers -- Taiwan Cellular Corp, KG Telecommunications Co, Far EasTone Telecommunications Ltd and "Chunghwa Telecom Co" -- are all expected to win licenses. The fifth license may go to Taichung- based Mo Bi Tai Communications Corp and its partner, the Cathay Group. |
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