The Cabinet-level Council for Economic Planning and Development approved a proposal aimed at promoting Taiwan’s WiMax industry Sept. 6.
The proposal, prepared by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, seeks to make Taiwan a world-class model for wireless broadband services and a global leader in offering end-to-end WiMax solutions, the CEPD said. The four-year program will begin later this year.
Under the plan, the MOEA will inject NT$6.6 billion (US$206.59 million) in subsidies and funds to help develop WiMax products, test locally produced WiMax base stations, introduce WiMax applications for government users and promote strategic alliances with leading international companies in establishing WiMax system integration.
As part of the plan, the MOEA will help set up a multinational company specializing in mobile communications system integration. The proposed company will target overseas customers who need 4G services, an MOEA official said.
The MOEA plan calls for the state-backed Industrial Technology Research Institute to fund the proposed company with an estimated initial investment of NT$1.5 billion. ITRI would also seek partnerships with international businesses in the industry, and the corporation in question is likely to be composed of more than one overseas company.
Sources said ITRI has been in the talks with such notable companies as Fujitsu Ltd., Intel Corp., the Mitsubishi group and NEC Corp. regarding the business cooperation plan.
The CEPD pointed out that global investment in the WiMax industry has reached over US$30 billion to date. Through those initiatives, the government expects to build a complete WiMax industry chain to tap into the vast international WiMax market, the CEPD said.
WiMax is one of 10 emerging service industries selected by the government for intensive development. It is a new technology that provides high-speed, broadband Internet connectivity to residential and business users without the cost and difficulty of deploying fiber cables or digital subscriber lines. Its applications are said to be endless. (HZW)
Write to Audrey Wang at audrey@mail.gio.gov.tw