Japanese Firm Icom Donates NT$1M in Radio Equipment to Improve Taroko Park's Mountain Communications
To address communication disruptions in the mountainous areas of Taroko National Park following a major earthquake, Japanese communications equipment manufacturer Icom donated 20 dual-mode digital portable radios on May 20. The donation, valued at over NT$1 million, was made jointly with Icom's Taiwanese agent, Chih-Hong Technology. The park administration will distribute the devices to engineers, conservation rangers, and rescue personnel for disaster assessment and restoration tasks.
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- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 13:25
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(CNA, Hualien County, May 20, by reporter Chang Chi) After Taroko National Park suffered severe damage from an earthquake, Japanese communications equipment manufacturer Icom has donated 20 dual-mode digital portable radios to resolve communication obstacles in the mountainous region. The Taroko National Park Headquarters stated that the equipment will be allocated to engineering personnel and conservation rangers for use during disaster survey and restoration missions.
The Taroko National Park Headquarters held a donation ceremony today, attended by representatives from Icom and its Taiwanese distributor, Chih-Hong Technology. The donation includes 20 VHF/LTE dual-mode digital portable radio transceivers, accessories, a one-year communication service plan, and assistance with system updates, with a total value exceeding NT$1 million.
Park Director Liu Shou-li said that communication in the park was disrupted after the April 3 earthquake, highlighting the problem of aging existing equipment. Furthermore, mobile phone signals are limited in high-mountain areas. Citing Nanhudashan as an example, he noted that communication relies heavily on satellite phones and radios, or requires moving to specific locations to barely receive a mobile signal.
Liu stated that shortly after the April 3 disaster, they received a message from Icom offering to donate radio equipment. As the existing system was outdated, the distributor Chih-Hong Technology first assisted the park in upgrading its equipment to ensure the new radios could be used smoothly within the park.
Liu added that the new dual-mode digital radios will be prioritized for engineers, park rangers, and emergency rescue personnel in the gorge or disaster areas to ensure smooth communication during their work.
This is Icom's second donation in Hualien; two years ago, the company also donated 50 radio devices to the Hualien County Fire Department.
In his speech, Shinya Terasaki, a department manager from Icom Japan, stated that stable communication is a critical key to maintaining command and control, enabling real-time response, and ensuring personnel safety during disaster reconstruction. He expressed hope that through their professional communication technology, they can contribute more to Taiwan's public safety and disaster prevention.
Terasaki explained that this radio equipment integrates traditional radio (VHF) with a mobile communication network (LTE), providing a more flexible and stable means of communication in complex terrain or during emergencies.
The Taroko National Park Headquarters held a donation ceremony today, attended by representatives from Icom and its Taiwanese distributor, Chih-Hong Technology. The donation includes 20 VHF/LTE dual-mode digital portable radio transceivers, accessories, a one-year communication service plan, and assistance with system updates, with a total value exceeding NT$1 million.
Park Director Liu Shou-li said that communication in the park was disrupted after the April 3 earthquake, highlighting the problem of aging existing equipment. Furthermore, mobile phone signals are limited in high-mountain areas. Citing Nanhudashan as an example, he noted that communication relies heavily on satellite phones and radios, or requires moving to specific locations to barely receive a mobile signal.
Liu stated that shortly after the April 3 disaster, they received a message from Icom offering to donate radio equipment. As the existing system was outdated, the distributor Chih-Hong Technology first assisted the park in upgrading its equipment to ensure the new radios could be used smoothly within the park.
Liu added that the new dual-mode digital radios will be prioritized for engineers, park rangers, and emergency rescue personnel in the gorge or disaster areas to ensure smooth communication during their work.
This is Icom's second donation in Hualien; two years ago, the company also donated 50 radio devices to the Hualien County Fire Department.
In his speech, Shinya Terasaki, a department manager from Icom Japan, stated that stable communication is a critical key to maintaining command and control, enabling real-time response, and ensuring personnel safety during disaster reconstruction. He expressed hope that through their professional communication technology, they can contribute more to Taiwan's public safety and disaster prevention.
Terasaki explained that this radio equipment integrates traditional radio (VHF) with a mobile communication network (LTE), providing a more flexible and stable means of communication in complex terrain or during emergencies.