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Contributions and Accomplishments of the Institute for Information Industry in the Research and Development of WiMAX |
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(Intelligent times 2008.02) |
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With development of WiMAX reaching a successful conclusion this year, the Institute for Information Industry (III), driving Taiwan's information industry, has completed independent research and development of key WiMAX technologies and obtained many key patents. In addition, it has finished developing the first key software technology for base transceiver stations (BTS) and transferred it to Alpha Networks Inc., a domestic manufacturer, enabling the company to develop smal l WiMAX base t ransceiver stations. Meanwhile, the Institute has formed international alliances, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Japan Fujitsu Microelectronics Co., Ltd., under which the two parties will establish a joint venture in Taiwan to apply WiMAX technology from Fujitsu and III in the development of application platforms. |
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The partners hope to maximize the potential of WiMAX through technology transfers to a domestic manufacturer and the integration of international giants’ resources. We are honored to have Institute for Information Industry CEO Ming-Hsien Chen share with us the contributions and accomplishments of the Institute in the research and development of WiMAX technology and his views on the future of WiMAX. The interview follows below. |
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What do you think Taiwan's advantages and opportunities are in developing WiMAX? |
| I think WiMAX is an important opportunity for Taiwan because the telecommunications world in the future will be focused on data services and mobile applications while voice will be enabled at extremely low rates or even free of charge through services such as Skype. Given this trend, profit margins for telecom operators from voice communications will shrink eventually. In light of this, telecom operators must shift to data services in order to boost profits. |
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Data services include email and purchases of such things as movie tickets and high-speed rail tickets or global positioning data; i.e., any real-time service that can be accessed via mobile phone. In the future, our mobile phones will also enable us to find information on nearby restaurants and hospitals. These are all mobile applications. It is generally expected that the market will grow continuously. |
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However, what are Taiwan’s advantages and opportunities in this business? Also, what will the new telecommunications medium be? If the medium is something like current 3G (WCDMA) and 2.5G wireless broadband transmission technology, Taiwan will only be able to take advantage of cheap labor and low production costs to make marginal profits as an OEM or ODM supplier. Therefore, with a new telecommunications medium like WiMAX, our government aims to provide Taiwan opportunities for greater added value in the telecommunications industry production chain. This industry is just emerging, so certain risks are involved. However, it is exactly because this new industry segment is taking shape in the value chain that the time is ripe for Taiwan to enter the business. |
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In light of this, our government is actively promoting WiMAX, and the Industrial Development Bureau is leading the Mobile Taiwan Promotion Plan to guide local and city governments as well as application service providers in jointly developing WiMAXapplication technology. Taiwan’s CP businesses, makers of handheld devices and BTS manufacturers have been joined together. It is our hope that through the integration of market demand and the supply side, businesses will be encouraged to join in the development of WiMAX at an early stage. If Taiwanese businesses participate in the development of WiMAX with the government’s leadership and encouragement, Taiwan will be able to accumulate sufficient experience in WiMAX technology, manufacturing and applications to make hit products. After WiMAX reaches full development, Taiwan will gain a competitive niche. |
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What is III’s role in Taiwan’s development of WiMAX? |
| To promote the WiMAX generation, our Institute will continue to support developmental policies for the WiMAX industry, strengthen WiMAX R&D and promotion, boost creation of international standards and adoption of key patents, assist with the development of the WiMAX industry in our nation, implement M-Taiwan and train technologists to support the industry. It is our hope that through WiMAX, we will promote our national development in the technology industry, helping domestic companies shed the yoke of low technology and low gross profit typical of OEM businesses, thereby upgrading our domestic industry for competition in the international market. |
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| Therefore, our Institute has mobilized considerable manpower and resources, including the Networks & Multimedia Institute in R&D and testing of WiMAXrelated technologies such as the integration of BTS application software and CP terminals; the Industrial Support Department to help with administrative processes and promotion of WiMAX; the Market Intelligence Center to collect domestic and international information on the WiMAX industry and provide reports on the latest developments; and the Science and Technology Law Center to collect reports on global WiMAX developments to serve as reference for our government in establishing licenses for WiMAX spectra.In WiMAX technical support and actual applications, all departments of our Institute have also provided the industry and our government substantial assistance. |
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Please tell us about the global development of WiMAX wirelesstechnology and the accomplishments in WiMAX R&D by III. |
| In the current global development of WiMAX wireless technology, there is fixed WiMAX (IEEE 802.16d) and mobile WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e), for which standards have been established. As the name indicates, fixed WiMAX (16d) provides PCs fixed wireless access. The only difference between fixed WiMAX and ADSL is the transmission media. Also, WiMAX (16e) features mobile wireless technology that can be installed in a notebook computer. Its primary characteristics include portability and uninterrupted transmission while moving. |
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| Our Institute got involved in R&D for key WiMAX technologies in 2006. We completed the first prototype nationwide for fixed WiMAX (16d) base transceiver stations, and we have joined efforts with Alpha Networks, Intel, and PicoChip in R&D for the first WiMAX (16e) mobile BTS systems in our nation. We have not only passed functional certification for WiMAX commercial test equipment but also obtained WiMAX Forum Plugfest certification, successfully connecting with WiMAX equipment made by multinational companies. |
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However, to take the initiative in the WiMAX industry, intellectual property rights will play a very important role. To own intellectual property, the key is to develop technology that is not fully adopted. In light of this, our Institute is currently dedicated to R&D for 802.16j relay technology. We will focus on 802.16j technology, which provides good indoor penetration rates and does not need the establishment of BTS to provide quality transmission. When it is promoted in the future, this technology can effectively forestall disputes such as local residents' objections to BTS construction. |
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| In the past, our information and communications industry was not able to join in the definition of standards and the adoption of key patents. In 2007, the Institute for Information Industry started proactive engagement in initiation of proposals in international WiMAX standards conferences and adoption of key patents. Can you tell us the accomplishments? |
As far as I know, currently only three businesses in the world own intellectual property rights for WiMAX relays, and they are Fujitsu, Nortel and our Institute. Our Institute has led the way, initiating 170 standard proposals on IEEE 802.16j, among which 67 have passed. In the draft 802.16j standard announced in August 2008, our substantial contribution accounted for 30% of the content. Meanwhile, many key patents were put in place for WiMAX relays, giving domestic manufacturers an advantage in cross-licensing of international patents and lowering the royalty cost for our manufacturers. In addition, because our Institute has also embarked on early-stage development of technology and worked closely with international giants on WiMAX relays while the standards were being established, our manufacturers are likely to gain a head start in the market. It is expected that we will introduce the world’s first prototype of a WiMAX relay in early 2009 and authorize domestic manufacturers to undertake volume production. |
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| In the future, our Institute will gradually shift its focus to make proposals for the 802.16m standard, cooperating with professors in the 802.16m task force and vigorously seeking opportunities for cooperation with international giants in both technology and initiation of proposals. We have led by making 27 proposals, among which 19 have passed, effectively strengthening domestic competitiveness in international WiMAX technology. |
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It is just because of our Institute’s efforts in WiMAX wireless technology that Fujitsu Microelectronics Co., Ltd. dec ided to s ign an MOU wi th our Institute in December 2008. We hope to develop more collaboration plans with Fujitsu to advance development of WiMAX. In addition, our Institute has engaged in R&D for next-generation WiMAX, 802.16m. |
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Continuous R&D and participation in development of WiMAX technology with good potential have boosted the international stature of our Institute. However, in addition to winning recognition for WiMAX development abroad, our Institute is likely to enter into technological collaboration with domestic manufacturers intending to develop and obtain WiMAX licenses. |
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| Your Institute has made splendid accomplishments with its accumulation of intellectual property rights and patents for WiMAX. What will you do in the future to further consolidate the development of WiMAX? |
Our Inst i tute has indeed accumulated many technological intellectual property rights for WiMAX. In the future, to encourage the participation of domestic manufacturers and to consolidate efforts in the industry, our Institute will adopt different collaboration models. Besides the plan for a joint venture with Fujitsu that I mentioned earlier, our Institute will transfer key WiMAX BTS software technology to Alpha Networks Co., Ltd. to provide them the capability to manufacture WiMAX BTS equipment. In addition, our Institute is in close discussion with other chip and system manufacturers. It is our hope that the technology and expertise of our Institute will enable us to explore more opportunities for cooperation with domestic and international businesses for joint ventures or technology transfers to enhance the overall effectiveness of the industry. |
