*Is Taiwan Next for cdmaOne*
Samsung Keen on Accessing Taiwan's Communications
Market
September 10, 1999 (TAIPEI) -- Korea's Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is actively
making inroads into Taiwan's communications market by making plans to transfer
code division multiple access (CDMA) technology to domestic operators.
It also is planning to team up with Korean counterparts to win CDMA orders from
Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics reports annual operational revenues of US$16.6 billion, mostly
from sales of semiconductors, home appliances and communications products.
While the company already enjoys close ties with Taiwan in the semiconductor
sector, it has been less successful in the field of telecommunications. Yet, recently,
Chunghwa Telecom's decision to target CDMA has provided Samsung with a niche.
A Samsung executive said that his company places great emphasis on technology
transfer. As its first step in accessing the local market, he added, Samsung hopes to set
up a technology support center in cooperation with local partners to help reinforce
maintenance and technology in Taiwan.
Although CDMA was developed by Qualcomm Inc. of the United States, Samsung
possesses core technology related to the switching system, which is said to be the
most important part. Samsung only needed to apply Qualcomm technology in the
areas of handsets and base stations in order to develop CDMA.
Chunghwa Telecom is taking quite some time to upgrade its mobile operations from
analog to digital. The company plans to unveil specifications of its upcoming purchase
in November, and open bids in February next year. Official service is slated to be
available in March 2001.
(Commercial Times, Taiwan) |
