Taiwan Looking To Make WiMax That Much Less Valuable
from the smart-move-there... dept
Taiwan, which has been on the leading edge of getting WiFi and cellular networks setup across the island said recently that they were now looking to move on to WiMax. This isn't that surprising (though, WiMax technology is still a ways away and when it comes it will only be fixed, not mobile). However, their latest plan is to issue spectrum licenses on the condition that the WiMax isn't used for VoIP. That's like saying we'll give you an internet connection, but you can't use it for email. Basically, the providers won't be able to sell phone numbers and phone service themselves, but it's hard to see how they're going to stop users from setting up and using VoIP themselves. After all, voice is just data, and it won't take long for people to figure out how to hide it from their service provider. Either way, this prohibition is just silly. It's clearly designed to protect the incumbent telephone business, but it's doing so in a way that (1) won't work and (2) immediately makes the licenses that much less valuable.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No Subject Given
Wimax is not only about voip and your analogy of the internet and email service is incorrect, I believe. The little island has capital invested on the current cellular network and must amortize is and use it to the extent of its value and until it depreciates.
Wimax, eventually, will take over Taiwan and calls will be much cheaper in the future. However, to prevent it from happening, is actually a good idea by fully spending resources to their full extent.
[ link to this | view in thread ]