Pegatron, an Apple supplier, is partnering with Microsoft to build private 5G networks, according to Nikkei Asia.
According to the article, Pegatron, the second-largest iPhone assembler after Foxconn, has worked on 5G technologies since late 2019. The company is now looking beyond Apple as the smartphone market slows.
“The company has been looking for new growth drivers as the smartphone industry has peaked,” a Pegatron executive told Nikkei, asking not to be named. “We see possibilities in the rising 5G market, and the top management team fully supports the allocation of resources to catch these opportunities.”
According to Nikkei, Pegatron has invested over 1 billion New Taiwan dollars (USD 36 million) and hired over 200 networking engineers to support its 5G commercial goals.
After nearly three years of work, Pegatron’s collaboration with Microsoft has resulted in the company’s first private 5G network implementation.
The iPhone assembler joins the likes of Foxconn, Quanta Computer, and Compal Electronics in their pursuit of a private 5G network.
In fact, at its Xindian production site in Taipei, the Taiwanese firm is already deploying a private 5G network. It’s also testing a specialized local network in Tokyo to show off its potential and attract international clients.
