Taiwanese WiMAX CPE Industry Witnessing Explosive Growth in 2007

According to Taiwan's MIC (Market Intelligence Center), Taiwanese WiMAX CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) shipment volume is expected to reach 651,000 units in the second half of 2007, growing 800% in comparison with the second half of 2006. Full-year shipment value of the Taiwanese WiMAX CPE industry in 2007 is expected to rise to approximately US$159 million, up from US$22.6 million in 2006.

In the second half of 2007, major WiMAX operators are expected to migrate from network trials to official operations. In addition, various Taiwanese makers have struck contract-production partnerships with international telecom equipment vendors, including Motorola, Alcatel, Alvarion, and SR Telecom, which is expected to help the Taiwanese WiMAX CPE industry reach mass production scales.

Taiwanese WiMAX CPE shipments consisted mainly of outdoor CPE in 2006. As installation cost and mobility are the major considerations of operators in offering WiMAX services, indoor CPE or PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) cards are projected to be head the development of WiMAX CPE in 2007. Judging from the terms of collaboration between Taiwanese makers and international vendors, integrated and basic-level products are the two directions in which WiMAX CPE specifications are expected to develop.

IOT (Interoperability Testing), regulatory issues, and certification are viewed as the main challenges facing Taiwanese WiMAX CPE shipment in 2007. For instance, even though chipset solution providers' demo boards have passed the certification of authorities such as FCC (Federal Communications Commission), Taiwanese makers' WiMAX CPE products, which are manufactured based on those boards, will have to undergo testing and certification independently.

In the first half of 2007, Taiwanese WiMAX CPE shipment volume hit 125,400 units, with shipment value reaching US$28.1 million.

Posted to the site on 28th September 2007