Published February 2002

Chinese telecom executives come calling on county

By John Wolcott
Herald Business Journal Editor

Eager for information about how to create a wireless telecommunications network for China’s 1.3 billion people, several Chinese telecom executives visited Everett in January to learn about U.S. communications technology from Snohomish County businesses.

The session at the Snohomish County Economic Development Council’s office was followed by briefings for the group in Seattle.

Welcomed by EDC President Deborah Knutson and Snohomish County Executive Assistant Alison Sing, the group spent several hours hearing from representatives of Advanced TelCom Group Inc., Verizon Wireless, Voiante, MicroTether and Telecom Network Specialists.

“We hope our meeting will begin a mutual opportunity for you to learn something about China and (to build) a foundation for future opportunities (for business in China),” Xiaowen Yu, Vice General Manager of Shengzhen Zhixiong Electronics Co. Ltd., told his hosts.

“For the new year, we are expecting the sale of 660 million new (wireless) devices. How can you guys miss such a good opportunity?” Yu said through an interpreter, drawing laughter and nods from his audience.

The growing wireless market, the obvious long-term potential and China’s recent admission as a new member of the World Trade Organization are all attractions for U.S. companies — and U.S. technology is an attraction for the Chinese.

China will surpass the United States as the largest wireless market in the world in less than four years, telecommunications experts predict, forecasting that mobile phone subscribers in China will reach between 150 million to 250 million by 2005.

Also, Internet use in China is doubling every six months, and the country already boasts one of the world’s fastest high-bandwidth networks, opening the door to video-rich Web sites and Internet access from cell phones and other hand-held telecommunication devices.

That’s why much of the attention of the group was focused on a presentation by John Shay, President of MicroTether in Bellevue, a new company launching wireless communications networks based on Internet Protocol’s new Version 6, designed to expand access to the Internet globally.

“This is the next-generation protocol for the Internet,” Shay said. “Today, Stanford University has more Internet addresses than China, and Asia only has 9 percent of today’s domain names, compared to 74 percent for the United States.”

Shay, who has already been building IPv6 networks in China, sees the new protocol and wireless telecommunications as a major market there.

Red Goodwin of Advanced TelCom Group and Randy Walter of Verizon Wireless both presented their telecommunication companies’ services and products in the wireless world, and Craig Nishizaki of Voiante talked about creating and installing networks of wireless telecommunications in various real estate properties. Lee Halvorson of Telecom Network Specialists presented information about the firm’s U.S. and Asian markets for installation of radio towers, antenna installations and related wireless network hardware.

Among the Chinese businessmen attending the meeting were Yu of Shengzhen Zhixiong Electronics Co. Ltd.; Dan Yuan, Vice General Manager, Guangdong Jiaye Communications & Service Co. Ltd.; Feng Chen, Board Chairman and General Manager of Guangdong Silver Fengxing Telecommunications & Service Co. Ltd.; and Jianzhong Wang, Board Chairman of Shanghai Landun Telecom Equipment Co. Ltd.

Several high-level technicians were expected to be with the group of touring Chinese telecom leaders, but U.S. visas were not issued in time for them to participate, an EDC staff member said. Others in attendance included Michael Cade, EDC Vice President; Bob Anderson, Snohomish County Senior Trade Adviser; SBA representative Richard Henry; William Stafford of the Trade Development Alliance in Seattle; and Edmonds Community College executives.

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