Taipei, June 12, 2008 (CENS)--NEC Electronics Inc., Japan`s largest supplier of computer and communication products, has decided to set up WiMAX (worldwide interoperability for microwave access) R&D center in Taiwan, which will specialize in IOT (interoperability test) and development of the wireless broadband network technology, according to company sources.

NEC`s decision to establish its WiMAX center on the island attracted great attention of local industry insiders, including Tatung Co., Quanta Microsystems Inc., Accton Technology Corp., D-Link Corp. and Alpha Networks Inc. Lin Wei-shan, chairman of Tatung, a veteran supplier of household electronics and recently having ventured into operation of WiMAX service in Taiwan, said that NEC`s WiMAX center will help Taiwan with further development of WiMAX-based products in the future.

Initially, NEC will invest NT$20 million in building the center and employ 5-6 R&D engineers, and then will expand operations of the center and increase the number of engineers to between 20 and 40. The firm noted that the center will mainly provide IOT services for Taiwanese makers` CPE (customer premises equipment) based on NEC`s WiMAX PasoWings solution, and engage in research and development of the technology in the future.

Lin said that since garnering licenses for operating WiMAX service in southern Taiwan area last year, Tatung Group has invited NEC to participate in its construction project of WiMAX base stations, and will apply the wireless broadband networks to distance medical and home care services.

With the demand for wireless broadband networks explosively increasing worldwide, WiMAX, boasting improved security, big bandwidth and high data transmission speed, has become one of the hottest issues nowadays. In fact, Taiwan government has actively worked with local and foreign enterprises on applications and development of WiMAX for a long time, in hopes of turning the island into the world`s foremost market for the technology and related products.

(by Steve Chuang)