Network equipment makers benefit from M-Taiwan program for WiMAX orders

Irene Chen, Taipei; Carrie Yu, DigiTimes.com [Thursday 25 January 2007]
International players such as Motorola, Alcatel, Alvarion and Airspan Networks have sought out partnership deals with Taiwan-based network-equipment makers including Accton Technology, Zyxel Communications, Gemtek Technology and Cameo Communications for WiMAX base stations, according to sources.
The focus of the partnerships will be Pico and Micro base stations within the Taiwan market, sources at the Taiwan-based makers said.
In the past, the international makers seldom worked with more than one network-equipment partner from among Taiwan-based network-equipment makers. However, since the Taiwan government implemented its Mobile Taiwan (M-Taiwan) Program, which dictates that participating companies need to at least source half of their overall purchases from Taiwan vendors, with at least 20% of the equipment needed for new bases to be from Taiwan-based makers, the international makers have become more aggressive in working with Taiwan-based network-equipment makers, the sources indicated.