Taiwan’s National Communications Commission (NCC) certified on June 17th the applications of eight companies to bid for regional permits to provide WiMAX services. WiMAX, short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, allows for high-speed connections of up to 75mbs for up to 30 miles. The six regional permits offered will be split evenly between coverage areas, three in the north and three in the south. The eight companies bidding to secure WiMAX permits include Taiwan’s three largest telecoms-service providers: Far EasTone Telecommunications, Taiwan Mobile and Chunghwa Telecom. While WiMAX will not be available until late 2008 or early 2009, the NCC began accepting bids from certified companies on July 26th, forcing companies to secure permits before determining whether the service will ultimately prove popular and therefore will be a sound investment.
