Far EasTone
A major Taiwanese telecommunications operator providing mobile, fixed-line, broadband, digital, and enterprise services.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Far EasTone Telecommunications Co., Ltd., marketed as FET, is a Taiwan-based telecommunications operator and one of the country’s principal mobile-network companies. The business was established by the Far Eastern Group in October 1996 through a joint venture with AT&T. It received licenses for GSM 900 and GSM 1800 services in January 1997 and launched commercial operations the following year. Its early network deployment was notable for combining the two GSM bands in an integrated dual-band system. During its first years, Far EasTone positioned itself not only as a voice carrier but also as an early provider of mobile data and digital services in Taiwan. It introduced services including a Java 32K SIM Toolkit, mobile banking, mobile commerce, financial and news updates, mobile fax and mail, logo downloads, and electronic coupons. In March 1999, after fourteen months of operation, it passed one million revenue-producing customers, an early indication of its ability to scale in Taiwan’s rapidly expanding mobile market. The company broadened its telecommunications footprint through acquisitions and corporate combinations. Its 2004 merger with KG Telecom became one of the largest transactions in Taiwan’s telecommunications industry at the time. Far EasTone later acquired a majority interest in Arcoa, merged with Yuan-Ze Telecom, and purchased a controlling interest in Q-ware Communications to extend its communications and wireless-service capabilities. The company also pursued strategic relationships with international telecommunications groups, including NTT DoCoMo and Singtel, although some proposed or existing investments were later terminated or divested. Far EasTone progressed through successive generations of mobile technology. It began offering 3G WCDMA service in 2006, obtained WiMAX licenses in 2009, and entered Taiwan’s 4G market after securing LTE spectrum in the 2013 auction. Its commercial LTE service launched in June 2014. The company subsequently introduced 5G New Radio services in 2020, adding higher-speed connectivity and a platform for services involving cloud computing, the Internet of Things, enterprise networking, and digital applications. Its business scope includes consumer mobile subscriptions, mobile voice and data, 4G and 5G connectivity, fixed-line communications, broadband access, enterprise telecommunications, and related digital services. Far EasTone has traditionally ranked behind Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile in Taiwan’s mobile market, while remaining one of the country’s leading operators. The company is listed in Taiwan under ticker 4904 and operates primarily in the domestic Taiwanese market. In 2022, it announced an agreement to acquire Asia Pacific Telecom through a stock exchange, a transaction intended to consolidate network assets and strengthen its competitive position. The company remains an active telecommunications brand within the Far Eastern Group.
History
Far EasTone originated in a joint venture established by the Far Eastern Group and AT&T in October 1996. Taiwan granted the company licenses for GSM 900 and GSM 1800 services in January 1997. After completing its initial network build-out, Far EasTone launched service in 1998 and became the first operator in Taiwan to deploy a fully integrated dual-band GSM system. The company’s early development combined conventional mobile telephony with emerging digital services. It introduced a Java 32K SIM Toolkit and offered mobile banking, mobile commerce, financial information, entertainment and headline-news updates, mobile fax and email, downloadable logos, and electronic coupons. These services helped distinguish the operator during the formative stage of Taiwan’s mobile market. In March 1999, Far EasTone reached one million revenue-producing customers after fourteen months of operation. Far EasTone became publicly traded in stages. It entered the Taiwan OTC Stock Exchange in December 2001 under ticker 4904 and moved to an official Taiwan Stock Exchange listing in August 2005. Its network expanded from GSM into 3G WCDMA, which the company began providing in September 2006. It later obtained WiMAX licenses in December 2009 and started WiMAX transmission services shortly afterward. Corporate consolidation was an important part of Far EasTone’s growth. Negotiations concerning a possible combination with KG Telecom began in the early 2000s after an earlier proposed transaction failed. A later agreement was completed in April 2004. Far EasTone subsequently acquired a 55.3 percent stake in Arcoa in 2005, formally merged with Yuan-Ze Telecom in the same year, and acquired 51 percent of Q-ware Communications in 2007. The company also had changing relationships with foreign strategic investors. Singtel transferred its interest in New Century Infocomm Tech in exchange for a stake in Far EasTone in 2007, later sold its Far EasTone holding in 2012, and China Mobile announced the end of its proposed investment in 2013 while retaining a bilateral cooperation agreement with Far EasTone. The operator made a major transition to LTE in the 2010s. In Taiwan’s 2013 spectrum auction, it obtained 700 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency blocks with a total bandwidth of 30 MHz. Far EasTone launched 4G LTE service on June 3, 2014. The company remained one of Taiwan’s three largest mobile operators, competing principally with Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile. It also continued providing fixed-line, broadband, enterprise, and digital services alongside mobile connectivity. Far EasTone entered the 5G era in 2020 with commercial 5G New Radio services. This extended its role from a mobile carrier into a broader digital-infrastructure provider, supporting high-speed consumer access, enterprise networking, cloud-related services, and connected-device applications. In February 2022, the company announced a stock-swap acquisition of Asia Pacific Telecom. The proposed combination reflected continuing consolidation in Taiwan’s telecommunications market and was intended to strengthen Far EasTone’s network resources and competitive scale. Far EasTone remains an active Taiwan-focused operator and a member of the Far Eastern Group.
- 2022
Asia Pacific Telecom acquisition announced
[1]The company announced a stock-swap transaction intended to combine Far EasTone and Asia Pacific Telecom.
- 2020
5G services launched
[1]Far EasTone introduced 5G New Radio services in Taiwan.
- 2014
4G LTE launched
[1]Commercial LTE services began on June 3 after the company acquired spectrum in the 2013 auction.
- 2009
WiMAX service introduced
[1]Far EasTone acquired WiMAX licenses and began offering WiMAX transmission services.
- 2006
3G service introduced
[1]The operator began providing 3G WCDMA services.
- 2005
Taiwan Stock Exchange listing
[1]Far EasTone became officially listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in August.
- 2004
KG Telecom merger completed
[1]Far EasTone completed its merger with KG Telecom.
- 2001
OTC listing
[1]The company was listed on Taiwan’s OTC market under ticker 4904.
- 1999
One-million-customer milestone
[1]Far EasTone reached one million revenue-producing customers fourteen months after beginning operations.
- 1998
Commercial mobile service launched
[1]The company launched mobile service and introduced an integrated dual-band GSM system.
Products and positioning
An integrated Taiwanese telecommunications provider combining mobile connectivity with fixed-line, broadband, digital, and enterprise services.
Mobile telecommunications · 1998
GSM mobile services
Far EasTone’s original commercial offering was based on GSM 900 and GSM 1800 licenses. The company launched an integrated dual-band network in 1998, supporting mobile voice and the early generation of data-enabled value-added services.
Mobile telecommunications · 2006
3G WCDMA services
The 3G WCDMA network, introduced in 2006, extended Far EasTone’s mobile offering beyond GSM voice and basic data. It supported faster mobile access and helped prepare the company for subsequent broadband-oriented network generations.
Wireless broadband · 2009
WiMAX services
Far EasTone acquired WiMAX licenses in 2009 and began offering WiMAX transmission services in December of that year. The product represented an intermediate wireless-broadband initiative before the company’s later emphasis on LTE and 5G.
Mobile telecommunications · 2014
4G LTE services
Far EasTone launched commercial 4G LTE services in June 2014 after securing 700 MHz and 1800 MHz spectrum. LTE became a core consumer and enterprise connectivity platform, supporting mobile broadband, data plans, and digital applications across Taiwan.
Mobile telecommunications · 2020
5G NR services
Introduced in 2020, Far EasTone’s 5G New Radio offering provides higher-speed and lower-latency mobile connectivity. It is positioned for consumer data usage as well as enterprise networking, connected devices, cloud-related applications, and other digital services.
Business communications
Enterprise telecommunications solutions
Far EasTone serves organizations with telecommunications and connectivity capabilities spanning mobile access, fixed-line communications, broadband, and network services. Specific solution details and product names are not identified in the supplied reference material.
Brand decisions
2022
Announce Asia Pacific Telecom acquisitionM&ABackground
Far EasTone sought additional scale and network resources in Taiwan’s competitive telecommunications market.
Action taken
The company announced a stock-swap agreement to acquire Asia Pacific Telecom.
Aftermath
The proposed combination was intended to consolidate the two telecom businesses and strengthen Far EasTone’s competitive position.
2013
Acquire LTE spectrumStrategyBackground
Taiwan’s telecommunications operators were preparing to transition from 3G toward fourth-generation mobile networks.
Action taken
Far EasTone secured 700 MHz and 1800 MHz LTE frequency blocks with a combined bandwidth of 30 MHz.
Aftermath
The spectrum enabled the company to launch commercial 4G LTE service in June 2014.
2004
Complete the KG Telecom mergerM&ABackground
Far EasTone and KG Telecom pursued consolidation after an earlier proposed transaction failed during negotiations.
Action taken
The companies finalized their merger in April 2004.
Aftermath
The transaction became one of the largest acquisitions in Taiwan’s telecommunications industry at that time.
Recent events
NCC conditionally approves Far EasTone’s investment in Asia Pacific Telecom[3]
Reported:
Taiwan’s National Communications Commission conditionally approved Far EasTone’s investment of NT$5 billion for an 11.58% stake and one board seat in Asia Pacific Telecom.
Far EasTone, MediaTek and Ericsson announce 5G mmWave collaboration[4]
Reported:
Far EasTone Telecommunications and MediaTek announced a strategic collaboration with Ericsson to build a 5G mmWave interoperability and testing environment at MediaTek’s communications-chip R&D headquarters.
Far EasTone launches friDay cloud gaming[5]
Reported:
Far EasTone and Ubitus launched the friDay cloud gaming service in Taiwan, initially offering 50 cloud games, including two exclusive AAA titles.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
Far EasTone announces iPhone 11 and iPhone SE discounts[6]
Reported:
Far EasTone announced discounts on iPhone 11 and iPhone SE purchases beginning October 17, including discounts of up to NT$5,400 and NT$1,000 respectively. The announcement also offered additional benefits for online applications and qualifying existing customers.
KT and Far EasTone sign 5G cooperation MOU[7]
Reported:
KT and Taiwan's Far EasTone Telecommunications signed an MOU to collaborate on 5G-related solutions, services and digital content development.
Far EasTone and Chunghwa announce strategic cooperation plan[8]
Reported:
Far EasTone and Chunghwa announced a strategic cooperation plan in January covering five business areas: digital convergence products, video products, dedicated-line landing services, IDC facilities, and enterprise IoT applications.
Sources8 sources
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