Far EasTone’s chairman, Chee Ching, said the telco has been looking to integrate and utilize 5G’s core technologies
Taiwanese mobile operator Far EasTone Telecommunications has signed an agreement with Intel Taiwan to carry out joint research on 5G open virtualized radio access networks, computer vision and private cellular networks.
In a release, Far EasTone said the two companies would combine their 5G know-how with the aim of boosting network capacity and offer better user experiences for individual and corporate clients.
According to Far EasTone, O-RAN-related research will involve developing plans to enable access to experimental networks and sharing testing systems, software and hardware.
The telco added that Intel will provide access to its Intel smart edge open software toolkit for the project. Far EasTone said it will also use Intel’s early access program to incorporate computer vision in smart city and transportation applications.
The two companies would also seek to integrate their most advanced technology into digital health, smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 applications with the goal of boosting industrial upgrades in Taiwan, Far EastTone said.
Far EasTone Chairman Chee Ching said the telco has been looking to integrate and utilize 5G’s core technologies, including big data and artificial intelligence.
Meanwhile, Grace Wang, VP of sales and marketing at Intel Taiwan, said the early access program would allow Far EastTone to develop edge computing and other Internet applications.
Under the terms of the partnership, Intel Taiwan would provide access to software such as Intel Geti and the Open Vino Toolkit to help Far EasTone develop solutions that enable businesses to better adopt computer vision in their day-to-day operations, Wang added.
In April, Taiwanese operator Asia Pacific Telecom (APT) approved a merger with Far EasTone Telecommunications. APT said that following the merger of the two operators, Far EasTone will be the surviving company and APT will be dissolved.
As part of the deal Far EasTone assume the APT’s total assets and liabilities. The merger is subject to approval by the National Communications Commission and the Fair Trade Commission.
Earlier this year, Far EasTone Telecommunications had announced it would merge with Asia Pacific Telecom in a stock-swap deal.
Far EasTone said its number of customers would increase from 7.05 million to 9.2 million as a result of the merger with APT.
In December 2021, Taiwan Mobile had announced a merger with smaller competitor Taiwan Star Telecom Corp. After the two merger deals are fully completed, Taiwan will have three major telecom operators left, namely, Chunghwa Telecom Co., Taiwan Mobile and Far EasTone.
