WiMAX is still a promising business, Acer chairman says

The WiMAX industry is bound to be a money-making business, and Taiwan is set to become one of the leading members of the global communications industry given the solid foundation it has built up in the WiMAX segment, according to Acer chairman JT Wang, who also serves as chairman of the Taiwan Computer Association (TCA).

One of the things the Taiwan government can do now is to continue to make investment in the WiMAX segment, enabling Taiwan-based WiMAX operators to establish a workable business operating model, Wang contended.

But the government has recently opted to make commitments on fixed fiber optic broadband networks under its i-Taiwan (intelligent Taiwan) projects, Wang commended.

The WiMAX technology still has a chance to become the mainstream 4G standard, said Wang. Even if WiMAX fails to become the mainstream, Wang said, investments in the WiMAX technology will still enable WiMAX developers to continue to develop the LTE (Long Term Evolution) 4G technology because the two standards have a high level of compatibility.

Wang also urged international players such as Intel, Clearwire and UQ Communications to commit investments in Taiwan's WiMAX industry, stating that a small amount of equity investments from those players will help the local WiMAX industry make headways in the global market.