Taiwanese multi-service operator Asia Pacific Telecom (APT) has soft-launched services over its 4G network by offering potential customers an unlimited data usage package priced at TWD898 (USD28.7 per month). According to Focus Taiwan News Channel, the operator will officially launch its LTE-based offerings on 24 December 2014, with Lu Fang-ming, APT chairman and vice-president of the telco’s parent company Hon Hai Precision Industry, cited as saying: ‘We hope to bring more energy to Taiwan’s telecom industry and develop better services for consumers, along with larger players in the sector … We understand that we are facing a lot of challenges and competition pressure. Despite our small size, we are aiming to provide high-quality services to customers.’
APT will offer its 4G services under the ‘Gt’ banner, and this is expected to be rolled out in all 400 of the operators sores by March 2015. Coverage at launch meanwhile is said to exceed 90% in the nation’s six major metropolises and 80% in other areas, with this in part thanks to APT’s strategic partnership with Taiwan Mobile Company. As previously reported by CommsUpdate, in addition to the rollout of its own infrastructure by vendors Nokia Networks and Alcatel-Lucent, October 2014 saw reports reveal that APT would also partner with Taiwan Mobile to share network resources with a view to enabling a wider level of coverage at launch.