From R&D to standards development, North Asia has been taking the necessary first steps over the past few years to lay the groundwork for leadership in 4G.
Unlike 3G, which refers to a specific mobile standard and allows the transfer of data at a minimum accepted speed, 4G, or "the fourth generation" of wireless communications, refers to a collection of technologies and standards that will find their way into a range of new ubiquitous computing and communications systems starting in 2005. In its earliest stages today, 4G offers the promise of allowing users to connect to the Internet and one another through a variety of devices and standards anytime, anywhere, and at a wide range of speeds, from narrowband to broadband.
The North Asia Mobile Market
North Asia is the most advanced mobile market in the world, and there is a strong concentration of 4G government and industry research occurring. The region has the right combination of government initiative, industry expertise and market size and market maturity to lead in core technology research, commercialization and potentially, worldwide market domination.
From R&D to standards development, North Asia has been taking the necessary first steps over the past few years to lay the groundwork for leadership in 4G. Pyramid Research believes that the mobile and fixed technology industries of these three markets are creating an industrial juggernaut, one that will likely define the future of broadband wireless technology?and give North Asian technology manufacturers and operators a tremendous edge in competing for business in future 4G markets.
This report analyzes the cooperation amongst Korea, China and Japan in developing the technologies, standards and IPR that could define ?next next? generation wireless markets globally.
Report Highlights
The potential marginalization of 3G technologies and business plans due to 4G.
The possible leap-frogging by China, Korea and Japan over the rest of the world in both a services and equipment perspective
The impact cooperation between China (manufacturer and consumer), Korea and Japan (R&D)
The level to which patent development and IPR collection can be used as a strategic tool by vendors and operators in North Asia in cooperation with - or competition against - players worldwide.
About the Author
Charles Moon Analyst, Asia Pacific
Based in Hong Kong, Charles monitors developments in communications and Internet for the Korean, Indonesian and Vietnamese markets. He contributes to Pyramid?s advisory and consulting services, and focuses much attention on 3G development in Korea.
After graduating from the University of Manitoba, Canada, with a Bachelor of Commerce, Charles has spent most of his time living in Korea and Hong Kong, employed in various occupations - from organizing golf tournaments for IMG, producing television programs for ESPN/Star, to rolling out internet media technologies for chinadotcom.
From R&D to standards development, North Asia has been taking the necessary first steps over the past few years to lay the groundwork for leadership in 4G. 