The two operators signed a corporate agreement for 4G roaming on September 25, 2014, but only filed a report with the NCC for the deal on December 17; violating terms that such an arrangement be reported within a month.
APT has argued that the cost of the partnership had not been determined by September 25, and a complete agreement was not reached until December 12, 2014, when they then informed the NCC.
“It is customary in the industry for two telcos to forge a roaming partnership without settling on an exact cost first,” NCC spokesperson Yu Hsiao-cheng told local reporters.
“It was decided that such an agreement should be reported within one month after it is first signed, on September 25 in this case. Each carrier was fined NT$300,000 for violating the regulations governing mobile telecommunications businesses.”
Yu added that further punishments were also likely, regarding other telecoms regulation violations committed by APT. These include the failure to build as many base stations as promised, as well as a change in the technology it would use for 4G services.
