Taipei, May 14, 2020 (CENS)--Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd., currently Taiwan`s No.1 telecom carrier, will open a wholly owned information communication/technology (ICT) company in Southeast Asia as part of its plan to transform itself into an ICT company from a pure telecom provider.

According to the project, Chunghwa will develop an ICT supply chain in Taiwan by integrating its existing subsidiaries with long-term partners to export the turnkey systems to Southeast Asian nations.

The plan is associated with Taiwan`s policy binding on the island`s telecom investments in mainland China, which inspires Chunghwa to open a subsidiary in Southeast Asia as an expediency to minimize impact of losing business opportunities in the mainland and a springboard into the mainland market once the ban is lifted.

Chunghwa has opened subsidiaries in Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong as well as offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bangkok. In Vietnam, the company has also set up an Internet data center joint venture, named Viettel IDC, in cooperation with Viettel of Vietnam.

Chunghwa`s officials pointed out that Thailand would emerge as another potential market as Thai government plans to issue 3G licenses and develop WiMAX service.

Industry executives pointed out that the planned Chunghwa ICT venture would be the company`s first wholly owned subsidiary in the region. They said Southeast Asia is rising as a potential market for telecom services in light of the still low penetration of mobile service, Internet service, and mobile data service in the region.

(by Ken Liu)