Telecom equipment manufacturers are expected to ship US$159 million in equipment that enables high-speed Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) this year, Taipei-based Market Intelligence Center (MIC, 市場情報中心) said yesterday.
Local firms shipped US$22.6 million worth of WiMAX CPE (customer premises equipment) kits last year, MIC said in a report.
CPE generally refers to telephones, DSL modems, cable modems, or set-top boxes for use with telecom operators' services.
INVESTMENT
"The growth of the WiMAX equipment business will be huge as global investment in WiMAX network deployment may reach US$75.5 billion from 2007 to 2012, and Taiwanese firms may invest US$3 billion during the period," MIC senior analyst Welber Chang (
In the next six years, half of the world's 500 telecom operators may invest in the deployment of WiMAX network, Chang said.
"Taiwan has the potential to be the world's most important WiMAX equipment exporter," he said.
LOCAL LICENSES
The government's plan to release two new WiMAX licenses in 2009 for local companies to offer nationwide services after granting only six licenses in July would be another driver, he said.
Moreover, local firms would benefit from collaborating with telecom equipment leaders, he said.
Gemtek Technology Co (正文) said it is supplying a telecom equipment manufacturer with its CEP kits with a high volume.
CHIP SOURCE
Local companies such as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (
Chip designer MediaTek Inc (聯發科) is expected to sell its first WiMAX chips next year, he said.
Chip industry leaders such as Intel Corp dominate the WiMAX chip market, he said.
Microelectronics Technology Inc (台揚科技) said yesterday that it has inked a contract with SR Telecom to sell the Quebec-based telecom equipment maker's WiMAX products.
Earlier this year, Microelectronics Technology signed an agreement with SR Telecom to make WiMAX equipment, including CPE kits.
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