Chunghwa empty-handed in WiMAX bid

Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd said it has failed to secure a license to operate WiMAX-based wireless broadband services in Taiwan. The firm successfully passed the first stage of the proposed business plan audit earlier this month but lost in the next stage of the price bid. Chunghwa said it had offered a price based on an appraisal of the value of current and future WiMAX service operations.

The Taipei-based company assured that the lost WiMAX concession would not impact its broadband access service offerings. "Chunghwa regrets the result of the bidding. However, the company will take part in the nationwide license issuing process in two years," it said in a statement. In the meantime, the telecom said it would continue to provide high-quality broadband access services by leveraging its current portfolio, which includes ADSL, FTTx and 3G/HSDPA.