While Taiwan’s retail, food and beverage, hypermarket and other traditional industries are rejoicing over the business the government’s consumer voucher scheme will bring, the digital media industry is in dire straits.
Media reports say that First International Telecom may have to give up its WiMAX — Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access — plans because of a shortage of funds. Although still working hard, the economic recession means its prospects do not look too promising. Not long ago, Taiwan Mobile Co also announced it would give up plans to use Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB). Are these two isolated incidents or are they somehow related?
WiMAX is a convenient wireless transmission technology capable of increasing the distance of wireless microwave transmissions by several kilometers. DAB is capable of CD quality sound transmission without interference. It can also simultaneously transmit video and other forms of data and be integrated with the Global Positioning Systems (GPS).
The development possibilities of WiMAX and DAB are extensive, but the tough economic times mean businesses must make cuts. This is a loss for WiMAX and DAB providers, and will have a detrimental effect on the development of Taiwan’s digital media industry. Only time will tell how other Taiwanese WiMAX providers such as Tatung InfoComm will continue to promote their services. It is also worthwhile to keep an eye on WiMAX to see if it will follow in the footsteps of DAB.
The development of DAB in Taiwan passed through three stages: planning, preparation and a final stage characterized by setbacks. It now looks like it may disappear altogether.
In 200l, the government planned 10 groups of radio stations, including most of Taiwan’s most renowned radio stations, to take part in a DAB trial. It was a big project and participants were full of hope.
At the preparatory stage in 2004, the first round of applications for digital broadcasting licenses opened. After the application review in 2005, six companies obtained trial licenses but only one, Tai Yi Digital Broadcasting, went ahead with trial broadcasts. A joint venture established between Taiwan Mobile — which owned 49.7 percent of the shares — E-Ten Information Systems Co, Hit FM and IC FM 97.5, it was the only operator led by telecommunications companies.
After two years of trials, DAB experienced problems, partly because of a lack of promotion, inadequate public knowledge of the technology and high-priced DAB radios that few were willing to purchase. As a result there were too few consumers to keep DAB up and running. In July this year, Taiwan Mobile announced that Tai Yi would be dissolved, and the outlook for other DAB providers is not very bright.
The biggest problem for Taiwan’s DAB industry was a lack of forward-looking policies. Many reports show that lack of promotion is the biggest problem with digital technology in Taiwan.
In a survey on radio broadcasting conducted by the Government Information Office in 2006, 57 percent of businesses agreed and 34 percent strongly agreed that the government lacked effective policies, while 55 percent agreed and 34 percent strongly agreed that the government lacked supporting measures.
Of course, the situations faced by WiMAX and DAB differ quite a bit and the two cannot be lumped together. However, based on the government’s lack of forward-looking policies and supporting measures for the development of DAB, it is difficult not to worry about the future of WiMAX, DTV and other facets of Taiwan’s digital media industry.
Weber Lai is an associate professor in the Graduate School of Applied Media Arts at National Taiwan University of Arts.
TRANSLATED BY DREW CAMERON
The cancelation this week of President William Lai’s (賴清德) state visit to Eswatini, after the Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius revoked overflight permits under Chinese pressure, is one more measure of Taiwan’s shrinking executive diplomatic space. Another channel that deserves attention keeps growing while the first contracts. For several years now, Taipei has been one of Europe’s busiest legislative destinations. Where presidents and foreign ministers cannot land, parliamentarians do — and they do it in rising numbers. The Italian parliament opened the year with its largest bipartisan delegation to Taiwan to date: six Italian deputies and one senator, drawn from six
Recently, Taipei’s streets have been plagued by the bizarre sight of rats running rampant and the city government’s countermeasures have devolved into an anti-intellectual farce. The Taipei Parks and Street Lights Office has attempted to eradicate rats by filling their burrows with polyurethane foam, seeming to believe that rats could not simply dig another path out. Meanwhile, as the nation’s capital slowly deteriorates into a rat hive, the Taipei Department of Environmental Protection has proudly pointed to the increase in the number of poisoned rats reported in February and March as a sign of success. When confronted with public concerns over young
Taiwan and India are important partners, yet this reality is increasingly being overshadowed in current debates. At a time when Taiwan-India relations are at a crossroads, with clear potential for deeper engagement and cooperation, the labor agreement signed in February 2024 has become a source of friction. The proposal to bring in 1,000 migrant workers from India is already facing significant resistance, with a petition calling for its “indefinite suspension” garnering more than 40,000 signatures. What should have been a straightforward and practical step forward has instead become controversial. The agreement had the potential to serve as a milestone in
China has long given assurances that it would not interfere in free access to the global commons. As one Ministry of Defense spokesperson put it in 2024, “the Chinese side always respects the freedom of navigation and overflight entitled to countries under international law.” Although these reassurances have always been disingenuous, China’s recent actions display a blatant disregard for these principles. Countries that care about civilian air safety should take note. In April, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) canceled a planned trip to Eswatini for the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s coronation and the 58th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic
RSS