The output value of testing and certification services for 4G LTE-enabled mobile devices will reach an estimated NT$1 billion (US$33 million) this year, a global certification company said yesterday.
Daniel Lee (李春和), vice president of the mobile testing services division at Bureau Veritas Group’s Taiwan branch, forecast that about 100 LTE smartphones and tablets would be tested this year for regulatory approval in Taiwan.
He said the testing fees for each device will average NT$10 million, bringing the total to NT$1 billion this year.
Photo: CNA
As of Monday, only eight smartphones had the National Communications Commission’s 4G LTE-type certification for use in Taiwan, Lee said at a press briefing in the group’s laboratory in Taoyuan County’s Gueishan Township (龜山).
Of that number, seven were tested at the Bureau Veritas laboratory, he said, adding that the process usually takes about two weeks.
Bureau Veritas also provides certification for the use of 4G LTE mobile devices in overseas markets such as the US and Europe, Lee said.
This allows manufacturers to save time and cut their costs in half, since they do not need to send their devices to overseas laboratories, he added.
According to the commission, the eight LTE phones that have already been certified in the country are made by Taiwan’s HTC Corp (宏達電) and Asustek Computer Inc (華碩), and Sony Mobile Communications of Japan.
The 4G LTE network is due to begin operations in the second half of this year, according to the companies that obtained operational licenses last year.
Bureau Veritas, a provider of compliance and certification services, was the first certification body to gain the government’s qualification to issue the 4G LTE certificate, beginning in January.
The certifying body says it seeks to help hardware manufacturers to gain faster market access and support government efforts to ensure product quality and safety.
Founded in 1828, the Paris-based group has more than 62,000 employees in 1,330 offices and laboratories across 140 countries.
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