April 15, 2010 - Taiwan is a major WiMAX hotbed, because its manufacturing community has taken the lead in making the technology affordable, and it aims to have a similar role in LTE. However, despite two LTE trials in the island state, by FarEasTone and Chunghwa Telecom, the regulator believes LTE will not be commercially widespread until 2017.

Dr Chin-nan Hsien, a commissioner at the regulator, NCC, told the WiMAX Forum Congress Asia in Taipei that it will take three years before the 700MHz spectrum - seen as the main vehicle for LTE in Taiwan - is reclaimed from the current military and police users. After that, it will take another two years to conclude the LTE licensing process, and another two years for commercial services to be built out, he estimates.

source:Rethink Wireless | Read full story