Worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) customer premises equipment (CPE) shipments by local companies are expected to reach 413,000 units in the second quarter and 485,000 units in the third quarter, up from the first quarter’s 264,000 units, a Taipei-based research institute said on Friday, citing rush orders and higher demand.
The Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC, 產業情報研究所) said that in the first quarter, many local manufacturers of WiMAX CPE were unable to fulfill orders on time because of a sudden rush of requests and the subsequent shortage of components.
But in this quarter and next quarter, MIC says component shortages will not be an issue and suppliers will be able to deliver on time.
Since last year, domestic equipment makers have invested heavily into research and development of 802.16e WiMAX products.
The IEEE Standards Association approved the 802.16e mobile wireless standard in December 2005, amending the original 802.16 transmission standard to facilitate high data-rate transmission and voice communication from moving vehicles.
“With the accumulated expertise in 802.16e technology, local manufacturers have already finished end product testing, enabling them to receive international WiMAX CPE orders, which will be an added boost to the second and third quarter shipment numbers,” MIC analyst Yen Xiang-yu (顏向瑜) wrote in the report.
MIC is betting heavily on the worldwide trend toward wireless technology and sees great opportunities for Taiwan WiMAX CPE makers.
“WiMAX licensed operators such as Japan’s UQ Communications Inc and Malaysia’s Packet One Networks are already in their initial or trial stages for mass wireless services. So are many telecommunications service providers in emerging markets, which are ready to take part in this next wave of technology,” Yen said.
Looking at the WiMAX product mix in the first quarter, MIC said that 90 percent of the first quarter’s shipments were comprised of 16e models.
“Compared with 802.16e, 802.16d products shipments will continue to decline because 16e models have better downward adaptability to a variety of existing machines and equipments. Hence, the future mainstream CPE product will definitely be 16e-related,” Yen said.
Even though the first quarter’s shipment total stayed at the same level as the previous quarter ***--*** 264,000 units ***--*** the total shipment value dropped 22.4 percent quarter-on-quarter to US$29.5 million because of the few suppliers that had inventory on hand, but drove down average selling cost in order to secure orders and build long-term business partnerships with buyers.
Meanwhile, MIC predicted in a separate report that Taiwan’s digital cable set-top boxes chip shipments would see a 3.2 percent increase year-on-year to 2.31 million units this quarter, compared with first quarter’s 2.14 million units, or annual growth of 5.5 percent.
MIC said the total number of digital TV subscribers around the world came to 133 million people last year, growing 34 percent from the previous year.
The primary locations for digital TV remains the US and Europe, the report said.
“As cable providers in the US and Europe push for digital TV and provide many incentives for existing customers to make the switch, they are also waging a battle against competitors in order to woo their clients amid the technology upgrade. Hence, all these activities will no doubt increase the demand for cable set-top boxes and related equipment suppliers,” the report said.
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