The National Communications Commission (NCC) is going to require telecom companies to adopt safety regulations to protect their systems from Chinese infiltration.
While delivering a report on information security at the legislature Wednesday, NCC Chairman Howard Shyr said that no country is able to guarantee complete protection. But Shyr said risks can be lessened by setting up systems, rules and standard operating procedures.
"The number of telecom companies is of course increasing, so monitoring them on a one-by-one basis may not be enough," said Shyr. "We are going to ask companies to set up security systems for the internet and for four different mobile services. These will become regulations and not just a matter of personal monitoring. These rules will be standards for their operations."
Shyr said that the NCC has punished Chunghwa Telecom for a security breach last year, when an employee allowed a Chinese tourist to take pictures in an off-limits machine room.