Third-generation (3G) telecom operator Vibo Telecom Inc (威寶電信) yesterday launched the nation’s first experimental network using China’s homegrown 3G wireless standard, as cross-strait officials vowed to deepen collaboration on technology standards.
The TD-SCDMA trial network in the Taipei Neihu Technology Park area would serve as a platform for local tech firms to tap into the growing potential of China’s 3G services, said Rock Hsu (許勝雄), chairman of Kinpo Group (金仁寶集團).
“Taiwan has three years of know-how in 3G and it is the best time to jointly develop with China on the TD-SCDMA platform,” he said.
China Mobile Ltd (中國移動), the world’s largest mobile operator by subscribers, won the Chinese government’s license in January to launch the 3G service based on the homegrown TD-SCDMA technology. In China, the company has 530 million mobile users, with nearly 4 million subscribing to TD-SCDMA service.
Hsu said that if half of China Mobile’s mobile users switched to 3G, there would be great opportunities for Taiwanese companies, not to mention if the technology could be exported overseas.
Taiwanese companies, from chipset makers such as MediaTek Inc (聯發科), computer maker Inventec Corp (英業達) and handset makers such as HTC Corp (宏達電), are eyeing TD-SCDMA’s potential in China.
With the trial network in Neihu, local companies can test their products and market them immediately if the experiment is successful, saving them a trip to China to test TD-SCDMA products, Hsu said.
The launch ceremony was witnessed by Chinese Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Lou Qinjian (婁勤儉), who said at a forum yesterday morning that further cooperation on cross-strait technology standards is important.
Lou said that both sides should be more open in terms of technology partnerships to create a win-win situation.
“Limiting companies’ expansion [to overseas markets] would mean limiting the companies’ development and their profitability,” he told the forum attended by leaders of local tech firms such as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) chairman Terry Gou (郭台銘), MediaTek chairman Tsai Ming-kai (蔡明介) and Powerchip Semiconductor Corp (力晶半導體) chairman Frank Huang (黃崇仁).
Taiwan has advantages in advanced technologies, as well as experience in management, product marketing and production for the global markets, and these give Taiwanese firms an edge when going to China, he said.
TD-SCDMA, Internet TV, panels and green energy would be the near-term focus for cross-strait technology standards development, he said.
Hon Hai’s Gou said that as economic ties between Taiwan and China warm, the two sides should make use of this opportune time to join hands in developing technology standards.
“This would increase cross-strait competitiveness on the global stage and let us play a key role in tech trends,” he said.
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