China Mobile and Taiwan’s MediaTek are both set to launch plays for 4G LTE in the coming months, and both companies asked for collaboration in the sector at a telecoms conference in Taiwan yesterday.
Aaron Chang, head of Chinese operations at MediaTek, said that given their different market sizes and sectors, Taiwan and China should work together to expand their businesses.
“Over the past 10 years, many Taiwanese and Chinese firms have entered into partnerships,” he said.
“Chinese mobile device makers, if they work with more firms like [us], will be able to develop new products more efficiently and grow their businesses more quickly.”
According to local reports, the Taiwanese government will next month allow seven companies to bid for 4G LTE spectrum. The bidders include Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone Telecommunications and Asia-Pacific Telecom.
The Chinese government is also expected to license TD LTE spectrum to Chinese telecoms companies by the year end.
China Mobile has been establishing TD-LTE networks in several cities across China and the company expects to complete 200,000 base stations in 2013, with 200,000 more by the end of 2014.
“With both Taiwan and China finally moving towards approving the use of LTE telecom spectrum, the two countries can together create the world’s largest mobile telecommunications market,” said Lee Cheng-mao, deputy CEO at China Mobile.
“Taiwan and China might be able to develop a fifth-generation telecom network, which will not only benefit telecoms, but also strengthen other sectors,” he added.
Earlier this year, the first cable connecting China and Taiwan went live.
