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Alcatel-Lucent launches WiMAX testing center

Franco-American telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent yesterday unveiled its new WiMAX application and interoperability testing (IOT) center in Taipei, offering testing services for six local companies including handset chipmaker MediaTek Inc (聯發科) and telecom equipment maker Gemtek Technology Co (正文).

The new center was Alcatel-Lucent's second such center after the one in Villarceaux, France, where chipmakers and telecom companies can test their products using high-speed WiMAX technology.

"There is significant market potential for WiMAX in Taiwan and the IOT Center stands to play a leading role in realizing that potential," Tony Chung (鍾贊耀), president of Alcatel-Lucent's business in Taiwan, said yesterday.

In October, Alcatel-Lucent signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Economic Affairs to set up the center to help foster the nation's WiMAX industry. The government said local firms should generate NT$140 billion (US$4.46 billion) by 2012 from WiMAX-related products.

"The center will save us time ... and lower costs as we position ourselves to sell new WiMAX products," said Chu Shun-i (朱順一), chairman of ZyXEL Communications Corp (合勤科技), which signed a contract with US telecom carrier Sprint Nextel Corp to sell WiMAX equipment last year.

Computer and motherboard maker Asustek Computer Inc (華碩) said it would start shipping WiMAX cards for computers and handheld devices enabling WiMAX Internet connection in the second quarter.

MediaTek chairman Tsai Ming-Kai (蔡明介) said demand for WiMAX for high-speed Internet connection would substantially increase in 2010.

Quanta Computer Inc (廣達電腦), the world's largest laptop computer maker on contract basis, and local telecom equipment maker Accton Technology Corp (智邦科技) also backed the test center yesterday.

Alcatel-Lucent supplies WiMAX equipment to Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信), the nation's top telephone company, and Far EasTone Telecommunications Co (遠傳電信), which also won the right to launch WiMAX mobile services by the end of this year and to implement the WiMAX network in some counties.
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