Taiwan Business TOPICS
This August, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), in partnership with U.S. tech multinational Cisco Systems, announced the launch of a 5G “open lab.” The initiative creates a platform where Taiwanese suppliers can apply to develop a range of 5G-related hardware and software, including small-cell base stations, IoT devices, and network switches, via Cisco’s cloud-based mobile network.
The purpose of the open lab is to forge a local supply chain for 5G network equipment and ultimately present a more competitive, cost-efficient alternative to the current standard of expensive, proprietary systems supplied by a few major telecom equipment providers. Proponents of the open infrastructure – also known as O-RAN, or open radio access network – say that it simplifies operations and procurement processes, creates economies of scale, and reduces the total cost of ownership of mobile networks.