Taiwanese PC Makers Join WiMAX Camp

Taipei, April 18, 2008 (CENS)--Taiwan's top two PC makers-Acer and Quanta Computer-recently joined the island's telecom providers to form an alliance christened "Consortium of Mobile Broadband (CMB)" to promote WiMAX technology.

The telecom providers include Global Mobile Corp., Vestar Cable TV Network Co., Ltd., Tatung InfoComm Co., Ltd., and First International Telecom Co., Ltd.

Industry watchers on the island said the allying suggests that makers of network-communications equipment PC makers have emerged as another major force pushing the formation of the next-generation mobile industry in Taiwan.

Acer Chairman J.T. Wang pointed out that WiMAX and thin-client computer will become the engines to reignite PC market, which has grown marginally after reaching saturation. He analyzed that global shipments of PCs kept growing over the past three years but revenue scale of the industry practically stood still as a whole.

Wang noted whether third-generation or 3.5-generation mobile technology, their bandwidth is not broad enough to download streaming video. WiMAX, however, can fit the bill of zapping motion pictures seamlessly between mobile devices.

Wang said he had kept identifying new opportunities for Taiwan's high-tech development over the next three to five years since he became chairman of the Taipei Computer Association and finally defined WiMAX as the new opportunity.

Quanta Vice Chairman Z.C. Liang estimated domestic WiMAX industry to remain in intensive-investment stage this year and returns to come next year. The company already invested in a WiMAX-equipment company.

Chairman of the alliance and Global Mobile, Rosemary Ho, pointed out her company will begin offering WiMAX service by the end of this year and is seeking to cooperate with telecom providers at home and in Southeast Asia. She added her company will push cooperation among industrial peers on joint procurements of gears and on co-location of base stations via the alliance.

Ho noted Taiwan's WiMAX-technology development had advanced quickly since the government issued six WiMAX licenses in July last year. She suggested the government lift the limit on ownership cross-holding between electronics manufacturers and telecom carriers to further help boost the island's WiMAX industry.

Vestar executives pointed out the company will increase its base stations to 600 to 700 by the end of this year at cost of NT$1-1.5 million (US$33,000-50,000) per station.