China-based telecom equipment supplier Huawei has been awarded a 3.5G data card contract by Taiwanese telecom operator Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan's Economic Times reported. Value of the contract is estimated at approximately NT$500 million (US$16.5 million; US$1=NT$30.1).

As per the contract, Huawei is expected to deliver a batch of 100,000 data cards to Chunghwa Telecom. Chunghwa Telecom had purchased around 50,000 data cards from Huawei up until year-end 2007. Aside from Huawei, Asus is also one of Chunghwa Telecom's major data card suppliers.

Other major data card suppliers for Taiwanese telecom operators include Quanta, which has signed a supply agreement with Taiwan Mobile, and Bandluxe, which has joined the supply system for Far EasTone.