Thanks to the strategic efforts of telecom giants like Huawei, China has made rapid advances in 5G, building an expansive patent portfolio across network infrastructure. As the industry eyes the 6G era, collaboration between the US, EU, Japan, and South Korea is becoming critical. Taiwan, with its notable progress in 5G Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) backed by government support, is now positioned as a strong partner for US and EU 6G concept validation efforts.
The European Commission's Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) emphasized that communications technology is essential for economic autonomy, security, and growth. To ensure Europe collaborates with top global partners, the EU is seeking to partner with Taiwan to build open, secure 6G global standards.
While Nokia and Ericsson have traditionally dominated telecom infrastructure, Huawei's rapid rise has disrupted this European stronghold. Taiwan, a leader in chip and networking product design, still lags in competing with the core network capabilities of European leaders like Nokia and Ericsson. However, the open 5G O-RAN ecosystem is providing Taiwan with a new path forward.
According to Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, many countries are racing to gain early market traction as 6G standards and commercial products emerge. Taiwan has invested in 6G prototype systems, aiming to integrate its technology into international standards before they are finalized.
A Taiwan-based team composed of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), National Sun Yat-sen University, Lite-On, Auray, and Quanta recently became the first non-European entity certified by the EU's 6G SANDBOX project, establishing a 6G experimental network in Europe. This network is testing integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) technology via O-RAN, deploying AI-based posture recognition and 3D imaging in network tests for vertical applications.
Another key project involves a consortium from ITRI, TMY Technology, YTTEK Technology, BenQ Materials, and National Chung Cheng University, which was also selected for the 6G-SANDBOX project. Their Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) solution will undergo testing and validation in Málaga, Spain, in February 2025, alongside industry heavyweights such as Belgium's Keysight, Nokia, Telefónica, and the University of Málaga.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs notes that the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA) leads Europe's next-generation networks and services research. Formed in 2021 with EU backing, 6G-IA gathers leading industry and academic participants to advance Europe's position in 6G development and manage smart networks and services.
6G-SANDBOX, an EU Horizon Europe initiative, aims to establish a modular 6G experimental ecosystem in Europe, supporting critical research and development for the next decade. The project has established four major test sites across Málaga, Berlin, Oulu, and Athens, laying the groundwork for Europe's 6G future.
