EU investigation of China-made 3G data cards may benefit Taiwan makers

08/07/2010 12:00 - 436 Views

The undertaking by the European Union (EU) of an anti-dumping investigation of 3G data cards produced by China-based makers, especially from Huawei Technologies and ZTE, may push mobile telecom carriers in Europe to shift orders to Taiwan-based makers in order to reduce procurement risks, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

The EU recently began the investigation into the import of Chinese-made modems, a market worth more than US$4 billion, based on a grievance filed by Belgium-based Option,

In the European market, Option, Sierra Wireless and Novatel Wireless had been the top suppliers of wireless data cards until Huawei and ZTE won orders increasingly more orders from the main mobile telecom carriers, including Vodafone, T-Mobile, Orange, Telefonica and O2, according to China-based media 21st Century Business Herald. Huawei and ZTE are estimated to have attained a combined share of 70-80% of the European 3G data card market, the sources noted.

The main Taiwan-based makers of 3G data cards include Asustek Computer, Quanta Computer, Inventec, Qisda and BandRich, the sources pointed out.

Daniel Shen, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES [Tuesday 6 July 2010]

Source: www.digitimes.com