4G issue dominates telecom show

The four-day show is taking place at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall Two.

Fourth-generation telecommunications technology (4G) is set to dominate the event. 4G enables higher data speeds needed by mobile users as they play games, use social networks and download applications with their devices.

Thus far two competing technologies have emerged to allow increased data speed, LTE and WiMAX, the latter of which has been adopted by most Taiwan mobile operators. Yet LTE seems to be on its way to become the prevalent technology in the world.

At the same time, the government has issued six WiMAX licenses, giving rise to a need for integration among operators.

At the show yesterday, Douglas Hsu, chairman of Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET), urged the government to look at the issue of WiMAX integration seriously.

“Far EasTone has spent a lot of money on WiMAX. Yet the government has issued six WiMAX licenses, making it hard for FET to adopt a strategy that ensures profitability,” he said.

“I hope the government looks at WiMAX integration with a macroeconomic perspective and drafts a policy that ensures the survival of WiMAX operators,” he said.

“If the government allows WiMAX operators to migrate into LTE, then I'll invest a lot of money in this area,” he added. “I know Premier Sean Chen will look at this issue seriously, given that he is a smart and logical person.”

Meanwhile, J. T. Wang, chairman of Acer Inc. who doubles as the chairman of the Taipei Computer Association, said Taiwan information technology operators should place a stronger focus on cloud computing and its applications.

“Compared to data center solutions, cloud computing is a better technology,” he said. “Data centers consume more power and emit more greenhouse gases.”

He said the issuance of electronic uniform invoices is a good example of cloud computing application, whereby the invoice number is stored in the user's EasyCard and can be checked electronically at a convenience store kiosk to see if the user has won the uniform invoice lotto draw.

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