Microsoft’s investment in artificial-intelligence startup OpenAI has been a success so far. That isn’t stopping the technology giant from playing the field.
The Rundown: APT-FET Deal, Microsoft-Hon Hai Partnership, and FSC Fines Securities Firms
NCC Approves APT-FET Deal
Taiwan’s National Communications Commission (NCC) on March 3 approved local telecom operator Far EasTone’s (FET) application to share its 5G bandwidth on the 3.5GHz frequency band with Asia-Pacific Telecom (APT). As a condition of its approval, the NCC requested the establishment of an oversight task force for internet security and the installation of 2,000 4G and 5G base stations to increase coverage. The deal is now pending the approval of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC).
APT signed a 20-year 5G sharing deal with FET last September – the first such deal in Taiwan – after its own failed bid for the much-desired 3.5GHz frequency band. APT will pay NT$9.47 billion in network deployment costs in exchange for rights to use the bandwidth.