Tatung InfoComm (www.tatung.net.tw) , a wholly owned subsidiary of a Taiwanese conglomerate, Tatung Co.(www.tatung.com),which was responsible for the “M-Taiwan Project” of Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs (IDB, MOEA).
M-Taiwan Projects is a national project of Taiwan to establish a networked information society across the island.Tatung’s great achievements on the M-Taiwan Project of Hualien, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung Counties won Tatung a high recognition from IDB.

No wonder in July 2007 Tatung InfoComm acquired the WiMAX license (2595-2625MHz  frequency band) for the southern region of Taiwan.

On June 2,2008 Tatung InfoComm has selected Alcatel-Lucent to deploy a commercial WiMAX 802.16e-2005 (Rev-e) network in Penghu Islands,Taiwan.

In October 2008 Tatung InfoComm announced a plans to purchase about 200 WiMAX base stations and related network equipment from Alcatel-Lucent.The purchase of 200 WiMAX base stations is part of a new NT$500 million (US$15.4 million) procurement plan to purchase equipment needed for Tatung’s WiMAX networks in Kaohsiung city and Penghu islands.

Tatung InfoCommm became the first WiMAX operator who acquired operation permitted license of WiMAX in Taiwan on November 19th, 2008.

Furthermore, Tatung InfoCommm is officially going commercializing in Penghu Islands on April 27th, 2009, according to the company.

The Penghu islands are an archipelago off the western coast of Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait consisting of 90 small islands and islets covering an area of 141 square kilometers. The whole archipelago forms Penghu County, Taiwan Province, Republic of China.

The Penghu islands consists of near one hundred islands. The land area totals about 127 square kilometers. The Makung Island (including Makung City and Hushi) is the largest island in the archipelago, followed by Hsiyu, Baisha.

The initial WiMAX deployment focuses on reducing the digital divide, with WiMAX providing most of the wireless broadband data and voice services across 70% of the county’s territory. The availability of broadband services is also expected to help boost the local tourist trade in the county, known for its natural scenery and rich cultural background.

Customer premise equipment (CPE) will comprise of USB dongles and wireless access points (AP) during the initial period of operation, company president Peter Yen said.

Apparently USB dongle that Peter Yen said will be Quanta USB Dongle 2.5 GHz which provided by  Quanta Microsystems, Inc. (QMI) (www.qmitw.com), an ODM company from Taiwan. QMI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Quanta Computer Inc which known as One Laptop per Child (OLPC) maker.

Update : At this time Tatung InfoComm doesn’t provide Quanta USB Dongle 2.5 GHz but Accton Wireless Broadband (AWB) US210-2.5.

QMI was the one of four companies that received the Alcatel-Lucent Seal of Interoperability Acceptance for Commercial Services (SIACS) for completing the highest level of interoperability testing.

Devices qualified for the Alcatel-Lucent SIACS includes Quanta USB Dongle (2.3GHz, 2.5GHz and 3.5GHz) and Quanta PCMCIA card (2.5 & 3.5GHz)

Quanta USB Dongle 3.5 GHz also available as Alcatel-Lucent USB WiMAX dongle for Aerea WiMAX in Amsterdam, Netherland.

Motorola seems indeed to be working with the same ODM as Alcatel-Lucent. Motorola USBw25100 is available as Clear’s USB WiMAX modem. Motorola USBw25100 apparently is Quanta USB Dongle 2.5 GHz.

For the wireless access points (AP) that Peter Yen said apparently will be Accton Wireless Broadband (AWB) RG230-2.5 Multi-user Indoor CPE (2.5GHz).

Accton Wireless Broadband (www.awbnetworks.com) was another Taiwan’s based ODM company that received the Alcatel-Lucent Seal of Interoperability Acceptance for Commercial Services for completing the highest level of interoperability testing.

The AWB RG230 is a WiMAX indoor IAD. It integrates Wi-Fi(IEEE 802.11b/g), VoIP and Ethernet technology and provides internet connectivity through WiMAX. Compliant with IEEE 802.16e WiMAX standard, the AWB RG230 delivers the last mile broadband wireless access (BWA) for service provider in fixed or mobile applications. It performs as an alternative to wired DSL or cable modems with higher and wider transmitting speed and coverage.

AWB RG230 are available in three types :

• RG230-2.3 for 2.3-2.4 GHz frequency band
• RG230-2.5 for 2.496-2.696 GHz frequency band
• RG230-3.5 for 3.3-3.6 GHz frequency band

For detail specification, you can download AWB RG230 datasheet (PDF).

Apparently Tatung InfoComm will be the first WiMAX provider who start commercial services and takes the telecommunication industry of Taiwan into the next generation.

Congratulation Tatung !

Via Digitimes

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