Congratulatory address from telecommunications authority of Taiwan


- Dr. Kai-Sheng Kao, Deputy Director General, Directorate General of Telecommunications (DGT), Ministry of Transportation and Communications -

I am glad that the PHS MoU Group General Meeting is held in Taipei this summer and feel honored to speak at this event on behalf of the DGT. Ever since being set up in July 1996, the group has dedicated to developing the PHS technical standard, promoting international roaming, and introducing the PHS services to the world. Its achievements have been widely recognized around the world.

As the telecom regulator in Taiwan, I am glad to know that the PHS service of the First International Telecom Corp. has provided Taiwan-Japan roaming service and reached 320,000 subscribers early this year. It means that it has achieved the scale of economy and started to take off.

As we all know, the PHS now is capable to provide 2.5 generation GSM services. Except Europe, there are over 25 countries having adopted or introduced the PHS services, including the US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Africa, Argentina, etc. In Japan, the PHS services are popular ahead of other countries. Thanks to the innovative and low-cost features with supported diversified content, Japan created a splendid record and a successful operational model in the PHS market. In addition, according to the news issued in May, China has attained the largest number of PHS subscribers in the world and is still increasing at a brisk pace.

Nokia's executives Dr. Yrjo Neuvo was astonished when I mentioned the prosperity of the PHS in Asia during my visit to Finland a couple weeks ago. Even though they argued that PHS is not the main stream on the globe, they couldn't deny that the PHS market is exceptionally booming while other mobile systems are suffering from the economic depression. I suppose that the cheaper airtime fee is an important factor to its success. In Taiwan, teenagers and students prefer to use the PHS phones and become the major part of the subscribers. It is also the best option when one plans to buy a second mobile phone. In addition, thanks to the relative low electromagnetic radiation, the PHS has won lots of orders from hospitals and chip manufacturers. So I believe that there is still large room to grow.

As far as I know, the PHS handsets are still short to meet the needs of market in Taiwan as well as in some other countries. I urge all the PHS operators do their best to cater to this demand. At last, may all success come to this meeting!