[citation needed] Far EasTone was founded in October 1996 by the Far Eastern Group, in a joint venture with AT&T.

The following year, Far EasTone launched its service and became the first company to introduce a fully integrated dual-band system.

In March 1999, after fourteen months in business, Far EasTone achieved one million revenue-producing customers, faster than any other GSM operator.

[2] In August 2007, Singtel transferred its 24.5% stake in New Century Infocomm Tech company for a 3.5% share of Far EasTone.

[18] On April 18, 2013, China Mobile announced the termination of a stake in Far EasTone, though the parties signed a bilateral cooperation agreement.

[19] According to a July 5, 2015 article in The Wall Street Journal, there was a consortium seeking to buy cable television company China Network Systems [zh] from the private equity firm MBK Partners LP, led by the company and Morgan Stanley.