To strengthen Taiwan’s independent 5G R&D capabilities and help local enterprises seize global 5G Open RAN (O-RAN) opportunities, the National Development Council (NDC) has been promoting the Asia Silicon Valley 5G Smart City Project since 2021. Through thematic subsidy programs, the project integrates resources from central and local governments, as well as the public and private sectors, encouraging enterprises to actively develop innovative applications by leveraging 5G, Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), and other digital technologies.

To enhance cybersecurity resilience in smart application scenarios, subsidized projects are required to implement cybersecurity verification mechanisms, including threat modeling, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and impact analysis, providing comprehensive cybersecurity risk evaluations. These measures help strengthen the security protection of smart application environments while improving the maturity, security, and operational sustainability of smart city solutions.

The project also aims to establish replicable and scalable service models that can serve as benchmark cases for promoting future smart city innovation applications. By enabling Taiwanese enterprises to validate their solutions and accumulate practical experience in domestic deployment, the initiative further supports their accelerated expansion into international markets.

In the era of AI-driven intelligent transformation, next-generation communication networks, as a critical pillar of digital infrastructure, have rapidly become a key battleground for AI applications. 
To implement the “Ten AI Initiatives”, and to help Taiwanese enterprises secure critical advantages in global competition, Taiwan will continue to build upon and deepen the achievements of the Asia Silicon Valley Development Plan in advancing independent 5G Open RAN (O-RAN) technology R&D and smart innovation application trials. 

Building on the foundation established in previous phases, the next stage will integrate AI technologies to encourage local enterprises to pursue innovative applications across diverse sectors such as smart healthcare, smart manufacturing, and smart retail through cross-industry collaboration, international partnerships, and large enterprises supporting smaller firms. By guiding Taiwanese companies to conduct innovation trials and validation in domestic application scenarios, the initiative aims to help them successfully expand into international markets and further position Taiwan as a global Smart Technology Island.

 

5G Open-Network

In the past, mobile networks relied heavily on closed systems provided by a few major manufacturers, which made telecom operators lack flexibility for equipment upgrades or service innovations. With the rapid development of the 5G open-network architecture, equipment manufacturers are able to take advantage of the gradual maturity of network virtualization and software technology in the future, providing telecom operators with highly flexible and cost-effective 5G communication equipment, thereby assisting telecom operators in developing customized and differentiated 5G innovative application services.

To promote the development of innovative 5G applications and connect with international R&D capabilities, professional technical services are required to ensure the reliability and security verification of 5G Open RAN networks, while also supporting the integration of domestic enterprises with global vendors. Through comprehensive verification mechanisms, together with vertical application demonstration sites, the initiative can gradually accelerate the development of domestically produced 5G Open RAN equipment and further strengthen Taiwan’s independent capabilities in critical 5G technologies.

The following two 5G testing laboratories are provided to help operators align their 5G equipment with international standards.

1. OTIC Lab testing laboratory: The following testing items are provided
   • Basic testing
     • RU consistency
     • Equipment functions and interoperability
     • End-to-end performance and stress testing
   • Advanced testing
     • Advanced RU consistency
     • Advanced equipment functions and interoperability
     • Advanced end-to-end performance and stress testing
     • Transmission testing
2. Chunghwa Telecom Laboratories: Testing items related to real network end-to-end testing are provided
   • Basic testing
     • E2E real network verification
     • Autonomy inspection
     • Information security inspection
   • Advanced testing
     • Commercial grade reliability
     • Commercial grade network management functions
     • Advanced information security inspection
     • RIC interface (optional testing)

Verification testing descriptions

1. Companies participating in the testing: Including 17 netcom equipment manufacturers, namely WNC, QCT, Askey, LIONS, Pegatron, HTC, Sercomm, Compal, Delta, Lite-On, Alpha Networks, Arcadyan, Quanta, Inventec, Gemtek, D-Link, and Metanoia, as well as three system integration providers, namely FHnet, Wave-In and TSTI. This has shown that the O-RAN equipment independently researched and developed in Taiwan can keep abreast with the 5G SA core networks of domestic and international major manufacturers, demonstrating the autonomous capabilities in key 5G open-network technologies of the netcom industry in Taiwan.
2. Obtained an O-RAN Alliance OTIC Certification domestic equipment list (Reference link：https://www.o-ran.org/testing-integration)