Intel and Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs Extend Collaboration on WiMAX

Witnessed by Mei-Yueh Ho, chairperson of the Council for Economic Development and Planning, the agreement was signed by Yen-Shiang Shih, administrative deputy minister of Economic Affairs, and Sean Maloney, Intel executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer.

Under the terms of the MOU, Intel and the MOEA will evaluate the creation of a business entity for WiMAX system integration and invite relevant Taiwanese industries to invest in this business entity, whose services will include consultation on WiMAX network infrastructure design, and integration of WiMAX equipment, services, applications, as well as client devices. The MOEA and Intel have formed a task force to discuss the investment target, investment amount, business model and operations of the business entity. These details are expected to be finalized by the end of 2008.

WiMAX is a broadband wireless technology that provides low-cost, multi-megabit speed and great throughput for accessing large amounts of such data as movies and multi-media content. It is based on the IEEE 802.16e standard and is expected to be deployed around the world this year.

The MOEA and Intel will also work together to encourage the industry to improve compatibility and interoperatability between WiMAX network infrastructure and devices. Intel will use its global WiMAX testing experience to help Taiwanese vendors develop WiMAX equipment and solutions that work well with global WiMAX networks.

Since the Ministry of Economic Affairs signed an MOU with Intel in 2005, we have been working with Intel to assist the Taiwan network communications industry in developing WiMAX equipment and conducting international conferences, as well as exhibitions, and inviting the WiMAX Forum to set up its certification lab and office in Taiwan," Shih said. "As a result, the development of WiMAX has been very rapid in Taiwan.

"The future challenges that the Taiwan WiMAX industry faces is how to offer innovative applications and services, develop WiMAX-based mobile devices, and provide total solutions. Such needs have prompted our cooperation with Intel again. We appreciate Intel's support to the Taiwan WiMAX industry over the past 3 years, and look forward to even more successful collaboration this time to help accelerate the WiMAX industry development in Taiwan."

"The significance of our collaboration with Intel is to facilitate a business entity that can integrate the industry ecosystem to form a complete WIMAX industry supply chain," said Ho. "Such a partnership will enable Taiwan to deliver total solutions and maximize Taiwan's contribution to the global WiMAX industry."

Added Maloney: "The deployment of WiMAX networks and the integration of WiMAX into notebook PCs and various mobile devices starting this year will shape the future of wireless broadband communications and deliver a truly mobile and personalized Internet. The broadband infrastructure and complete industry ecosystem in Taiwan amounts to an outstanding foundation for the development of WiMAX. The completion of Taiwan's broadband wireless licensing marks a new chapter in the development of WiMAX and building on our previous agreement in 2005, Intel is pleased to further collaborate with the Ministry of Economic Affairs to jointly promote the development of WiMAX in Taiwan."

In addition to help advance the development of Taiwan's IT industries, Intel also confirmed that it will be the diamond-level sponsor of the forthcoming 2008 WiMAX Expo Taipei. The global event, June 2-6, will showcase how Taiwan-originated WiMAX solutions can enable a more convenient mobile lifestyle.

From 2008 to 2013, Intel plans to invest US$500 million covering across-the-board procurement and investment in Taiwan, including WiMAX.

About Intel's Support of WiMAX in Taiwan
In 2005, the MOEA and Intel signed an MOU to collaborate on accelerating the awareness and deployment of WiMAX technologies in Taiwan. Outstanding achievements of this MOU include helping invite the WiMAX Forum to set up its certification lab in Taiwan and its Taiwan office, offering technology resources to help Taiwan evaluate and establish the IEEE 802.16-compatible WiMAX technology, and co-hosting with the MOEA for the 2007 Taipei Summit, which attracted nearly 3,000 attendees from 19 countries and became of a focus of attention from the global WiMAX industry. Moreover, at important events such as the Intel Developer Forum, Intel has been promoting the MOEA's "M-Taiwan" program and WiMAX applications. The collaboration between Intel and the Taiwan industry ecosystem for developing WiMAX related products is also in good progress. Intel also sponsors the WiMAX research programs at Taiwan universities.

In March Intel set up the WiMAX Program Office in Taiwan, appointing Robert Wang as its director to coordinate for the cooperation with government organizations, operators and industries in Taiwan on WiMAX.

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