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Dear Mark
As you must know all that policy program stuff is not very interesting so I decided to write this
report in a more lively way. We believe you won't need to know every single detail, as this may not
help you to appreciate the big policy picture. We have picked three key state-level plans related to
the mobile Internet industry for you to research.
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The National Science & Technology Program for Telecommunications (NTP) Office was
established by the Cabinet in May 1998 to promote and execute telecommunications projects.
It is also in charge of planning, coordinating, consolidating, evaluating and developing the
wireless communications and broadband Internet industries. It aims to upgrade
telecommunications technologies, transform the industry structure and promote Taiwan as a
major global supplier for wireless and Internet products.
NTP Phase I was successfully completed by the end of 2003. During this phase, the industry's
production value increased significantly as a result of joint efforts by the government and the
private sectors. Before the project, the production value of wireless communications was at
9.38 billion NT dollars in 1997. The production value climbed to 80.56 billion NT dollars in
2002, an annual jump of 54 percent. In NTP Phase II, which started in January this year, some
13 billion NT dollars has been allocated for the next five years for research in wireless
communications, broadband Internet and commercial application services. According to
forecasts, the production value of wireless communications is expected to reach 580 billion
NT dollars and broadband communications 500 billion NT dollars in 2007. This will make
wireless telecommunications industry another trillion-dollar industry in Taiwan. |
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The e-Taiwan Project received Cabinet approval in March 2002, covering flagship projects
in commerce and trade, government, transportation, general industry and infrastructure. The
revised "e-Taiwan" project was approved in May and included in the Cabinet's "Challenge
2008: The Six-Year National Development Plan." Major tasks under this state-level projectare:
six million broadband subscribers, e-Government, e-Industry, e-Society and e-Transportation.
There are over 40 subprojects under these five major tasks.
There have been several achievements since the e-Taiwan project was launched. Taiwan has
one of the world's highest e-readiness rankings, thanks to its rapidly developed broadband
infrastructure; it surely is the result of the e-Taiwan project. Under the task of six million
broadband subscribers, the government has launched wireless broadband Internet
applications, developed IPv6 technology and information and communication security. It also
aims to promote the adoption of broadband network for households and SMEs. Under
e-Government, all government agencies and web sites have been connected on the Internet,
saving both manpower and overall costs. People's daily life is also closely linked with the
construction of e-Society, e-Industry and e-Transportationa. In short, e-Taiwan is the main
contributor to Taiwan's high e-readiness today. |
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M-Taiwan is one of the "New 10 Major Construction Projects" in Taiwan. This is Taiwan's
most important mission before the end of 2008, with a budget totaling 500 billion Taiwan
dollars over five years. This shows the government's high hopes for these projects. For the
M-Taiwan project alone, 37 billion Taiwan dollars has been allocated for the next five years
for the IB3G (Integrated Beyond 3rd Generation) Double Network Integration Plan and
broadband telecommunications construction. Through this project, Taiwan aims to become
the first double-network-integrated island with 15 mobile areas and 10 mobile cities.
The M-Taiwan project hopes to build the world's first IB3G Double Network Integration in
Taiwan and create the island's third trillion-dollar telecommunications industry. The
government also has plans to build an island-wide broadband network, encourage fixed line
operators to invest in fiber lines and create an open and free environment for IB3G Double
Network Integration. Wireless broadband services will require a joint effort from both the
government and the private sector.
As M-Taiwan has only just started it is too early to draw any solid conclusions here but it is
clear that this project is closely linked to Taiwan's future mobile telecommunications
industry. A more precise evaluation on the "New 10 Major Construction Projects" is needed. |
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This is an introduction to Taiwan's mobile industry policies to help you get an overall
understanding but if you need further information or details, please do not hesitate to ask. You can
also look for further details of Taiwan's e-government on the Internet. This facility, with a top
workable award from Brown University, should give you all the government documents you need.
I hope all the above will help you with your research and I wish you a good stay in Taiwan.
Regards
Eugene |
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