Taiwan market: Chunghwa Telecom to offer WLAN services at McDonald’s

Yinxuan Wang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DigiTimes.com

Chunghwa Telecom (CHT), the largest operator of mobile communication and fixed-line broadband Internet-access services in Taiwan, on December 26 announced the launch of its WLAN services at all of the 346 McDonald’s chain stores around Taiwan on January 1, 2006.

Including the 346 WLAN hot spots at the fast-food restaurants, CHT has a network of 953 WLAN hot spots around Taiwan, with the others located at other franchise chains such as StarBucks, and Kentucky Fried Chicken, a well as airports, 3C retail stores and large commercial buildings, according to CHT.

A WLAN hot spot is equipped with at least one AP (access point), with the number of APs depending on the reception of the area, CHT indicated. An AP costs about NT$5,000 (US$151) to set up, not including labor.