UT Starcom Partners Markwell to Deploy IPTV Service

In collaboration with Markwell Industrial Co. Ltd, UT Starcom has
revealed its intention to offer IPTV services throughout Taiwan
territory.
Markwell is a cable and internet provider and the signed contract
includes system capacity for 500,000 subscribers and initially 20,000
set-top boxes. Markwell plans to deploy an additional 480,000 set-top
boxes in the next two years.
Alameda-based UTStarcom , a provider of Internet-protocol television
networks and services, said it is also in discussions with other cable
operators in Taiwan who are interested in IPTV systems.
Cable TV has grown popular across the island of Taiwan since it was
introduced in the mid-1990s. Taiwan has a population of 22.9 million.
UTStarcom has major deployments on mainland China with China Netcom
and China Telecom. It also has deployments in India with Bharti Airtel
and MTNL/Aksh and in Japan with Softbank. In addition, the company
just announced Dec. 10 its first deal in Latin America with Brasil
Telecom.
UTStarcom says it has 600,000 IPTV subscribers worldwide.