(Nikkei BP Group)
(No.1 High-Tech News Site in Japanese)
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| Taiwan Info Institute, Cisco Systems Open ADSL Lab
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November 30, 1998 (TAIPEI) -- The Institute for Information Technology
(III) opened the ADSL Laboratory with support from U.S.-based Cisco
Systems Inc. to offer testing and verification services to local manufacturers
of ADSL-related products.
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ADSL refers to asymmetric digital subscriber line telecom technology.
A total of 16 local makers of telecom devices have contracted with the
semi-government III ADSL Lab for service, including compliance testing
of products with international standards and Cisco Systems solutions.
Those makers are integrating ADSL technology into their products.
Some of the local telecom equipment makers are already marketing ADSL
modems. For those companies the verification of interoperability with
Cisco Systems products will be valuable.
At a time when many customers seek high-speed access to the Internet,
services from the institute's ADSL Lab will help equipment producers
shorten their time-to-market periods, said Charlene Wang Chien, chief
of Taipei-based First International Computer (FIC) Inc.
Under the auspices of Cisco Systems, the institute's ADSL task force
of 72 experts is prepared to provide complete service. Such service
covers application, testing and verification of ADSL interoperability
as well as certification.
When the product design is found to be in compliance with ADSL standards,
a test report will be sent to the U.S.-based networking equipment giant.
Products in compliance will be allowed to carry the logo "Cisco Systems
ADSL Associate."
The institute said that the ADSL Lab is the first of its kind outside
the United States. This indicates that Taiwan is emerging as a production
center for telecom/ADSL devices.
Already, Taiwan is the world's third largest producer of personal computers.
And according to Dataquest, Taiwan produced 25 percent of modems shipped
worldwide in 1997, totaling a value of US$800 million.
"Taiwan-based device makers may not have much influence on setting technical
standards, but they are quick to follow new standards/protocols and
skillful in reducing production costs," said Larry Sun, country manager
of Cisco Systems Taiwan and channel director of Greater China.
"The fact that 16 companies have embarked on making ADSL devices is a
testimony to Taiwan's core competency," Sun said.
To secure a supply of core ADSL chipsets, III recently signed a memorandum
of understanding with U.S.-based Analog Devices Inc., to help local
makers equip their ADSL devices.
The 16 local modem manufacturers are seeking ADSL certificates for their
modem products.
Their next step will likely be production of ADSL COE (central office
equipment) routers and CPE (customer premises equipment) routers. It
is estimated that local makers will announce prototype ADSL routers
in the first quarter of 1999.
(Charlene Huang, Asia BizTech Correspondent)
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