Asia Express - Data Communications
WiMAX Development in Asia January 18-24
January 22, 2010
- Taiwanese WiMAX carrier Global Mobile, which has obtained a license for operating in northern Taiwan, opened its first WiMAX service store in Taipei on January 19, Taiwan's Economic Daily News reported. The first Taipei store is located in the Neihu Technology Park, and Global Mobile expects to follow with the launch of service in Da-an and Songshan districts in the second quarter. Currently Global Mobile has reached 96.8% service coverage in Hsinchu City, and the company's second-phase deployment will focus on the greater Taipei region.

- Liberty Telecom, which has been conducting service trials in metro Manila, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Makati and Quezon City, is expected to launch a commercial WiMAX network in the Philippines soon, according to a TeleGeography report on January 21. With San Miguel Corporation and Qatar Telecom as its financial backers, Liberty Telecom is entitled to 40MHz band in the 2.5GHz - 2.7GHz frequency range. It is reported that the company's service rate is estimated at 250 Pesos (US$5.4; US$1=46.3 Pesos) per month.