NCC, on June 1, 2009, appointed Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd., Taiwan Fixed Network Co., Ltd. and New Century InfoComm Tech Co., Ltd. to establish broadband network services in 51 remote tribes (neighborhoods) with a total expense of NTD77 million. The expense was shared by the three enterprises based on the annual business volume of each provider.
NCC assigned Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. to construct 48 fiber nodes, providing universal services for data communications access in uneconomic regions which covered 12 counties: Yilan County, Taoyuan County, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Nantou County, Chiayi County, Tainan County, Kaohsiung County, Pingtung County, Hualien County, Taitung County and Wuciou Township of Kinmen County, 28 townships and 35 villages. The company had, during August and November, completed the construction of data broadband networks which can provide a speed of over 2Mbps/256Kbps in the following 8 remote tribes and neighborhoods: the 14th Neighborhood of Kaoliao Village in Yuli Township (Chiko Mountain), the 9th Neighborhood of Luoshan Village and the 25th Neighborhood of Wanning Village (Sixty Stones Mountain) in Fuli Township, the 1st and 2nd Neighborhood of Juihsiang Village and the 7th Neighborhood of Juipei Village in Rueisuei Township, the 1st to 8th Neighborhood of Jhuocing Village in Jhuosi Township, the 6th to 8th Neighborhood of Mizan Village in Shoufeng Township and the 18th to 20th Neighborhood of Fongbin Village in Fongbin Township.
To realize the achievement of broadband network construction and enable local residents to fully understand the service and its benefits, Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. held an opening ceremony of telecommunications universal service for data broadband network on December 21, 2009 in the camping area of Luoshan Service Station in East Rift Valley National Scenic Area in Fuli Township, Hualien. The opening ceremony was co-hosted by NCC Vice Chairman Jeng-Chang Chen, NCC Commissioners Jin-Nan Hsieh, Chorng-Jian Liu and Chi-Hui Chung, President of Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. and Warden of Fuli Township. Activities included an exhibition of broadband construction and seminars on broadband.
Through the mechanism of universal service for telecommunications, the basic telecommunications service and external communication environment for residents of remote areas could be improved. Hopefully, after Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. provided broadband services for remote tribes and neighborhoods in Hualien County, the quality of instructional environment for multimedia Internet at both elementary schools and junior high schools and that of students’ learning at home would be improved. In addition, the digital opportunity for adults to learn online and the development of local tourism and the sales of agricultural products can be promoted. NCC has completed 95% coverage rate for remote tribes and neighborhoods in the past three years.
