The Republic of China's telecommunications service has witnessed a noteworthy growth in the past two years despite the world-wide economic crisis. The Directorate General of telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, held a three-day conference in late August to review the nation's telecommunications service in 1976. It was decided that a total of NT$69,200 million will be invested to speed up development plans for the next six years. Three goals are set: 1. Introduction of new and advanced technology for better telecommunications service. 2. Computerization of operations to reduce costs and improve service quality. 3. Modernization of management methods to increase efficiency.
With rapid economic development and the rising standard of living, people in Taiwan have greater needs for telephone service. The responsible government authorities are responding by expanding local telephone facilities, and providing extensive rural telephone and public telephone services. To cite local telephones as an example, there were 774,233 subscribers and 1,118,000 telephone stations in Taiwan at the end of 1975. The growth rate for 1974-5 was as high as 28 per cent. It is estimated that upon completion of the six-year development plan there will be 3.2 million telephones in Taiwan. There will then be 17.5 telephones per 100 persons, compared with today's 7.5.
Meanwhile, three new services were introduced to meet the needs of customers: touch tone telephones, call waiting and abbreviated dialing. Growth is also reported in the categories of toll telephone, international telephone, domestic telegraph and international telex services. In international telecommunications, both the satellite and trans-horizon microwave systems are used. At present there are two satellite earth stations in the Republic of China, one beamed at the Pacific Ocean and the other toward the Indian Ocean. TV stations in Taiwan now use the satellite to transmit sports activities across the ocean, thus contributing to the promotion of cultural exchange among nations. Taiwan-Hong Kong and Taiwan-Philippines telecommunications use the trans-horizon microwave system.
Satellite earth station in Taipei
Telecommunication Plant Building
Taiwan-Hong Kong trans-horizon microwave system
Electronic switching system under construction
Electronic computer for billing
Domestic telegraph operation center
Operators making connections
International telex service center
International telephone operation center
Punching cards for electronic computer
Public telephone in Taipei railway station
International tele phone operation center
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