The Wireless-Telecommunications Cluster
As part of the cluster process, late in 2001, working groups consisting of key leaders in the wireless-telecommunications cluster came together to work on shared challenges. These were challenges that no group or company could tackle on their own. They need the strength and collaboration of working on teams that involved other components of the cluster.
To overcome their challenges they decided to develop shared solutions. Those shared solutions are called Action Initiatives and the action initiatives for wireless-telecommunications are listed below.
- Wireless City (A flagship initiative)
- Establish a management acceleration program
- Develop an online cluster resource Web site
- Develop a practical marketing strategy
For more information about the Wireless-Telecommunications Action Initiatives
Background information
Calgary is Canada's major centre for wireless development and manufacturing. The many players in this cluster range from large wireless carriers to smaller firms, with total employment estimated at 12,000 in the region. The cluster has good representation in each of the major segments of the wireless-telecommunications cluster.
Cluster inclusions
These segments include:
- Personal Area Networks (PANs),
- Wireless Local Area Networks (W-LANs),
- Fixed Wireless Access Systems and other emerging segments.
The region is distinctive because the cluster also comprises a good depth of suppliers in electronics manufacturing and telecommunications services. Calgary's wireless-telecommunications cluster has outperformed North American competitors during the past decade.
Global outlook
The cluster has a location quotient of about one and half times the North American average. While not as highly concentrated as Ottawa or Denver, Calgary is growing at over five times the average growth rate of other regions. Communications equipment manufacturing has been the most highly concentrated here, compared to other segments, although the recent economic downturn may have affected this. While manufacturing employment had risen until recently, job losses in telecommunications services have offset this previous growth as consolidation in wireless services has taken place.
Nevertheless, the cluster compensation levels are high. Major employers in the wireless and telecommunication cluster include Nortel Networks, Cell-Loc, Wi-LAN, and CSI Wireless. Other firms include Harris Telecommunications, Intel Design Engineering, Novatel Wireless, Quick Link Communications, Telus Mobility, WaveRider Communications, Panasonic Wireless Design Centre and Solectron Electronics. Wireless networks are expanding and will change as new technologies, such as 3G (third generation) enable high bandwidth handheld devices and improve user capacity for mobile e-commerce. TRLabs has played an important regional role in helping companies in Calgary develop and access wireless technology.
Considerable demand is expected to continue to grow in regions that are remote where the need to install wires or fibre can be bypassed by wireless systems.
Challenges
Some market hurdles facing the wireless cluster are:
- Security issues,
- Competing standards and
- Functional limitations of devices
These are expected to be overcome thus enabling new future growth. PANs are a small but rapidly growing market segment, expected to reach US$5B by 2005. Wireless LANs focus on the small office marketplace and are expected to have achieved an installed base of US$35.8B by 2004. Fixed Wireless Access may become an alternative for areas where DSL and cable services are not available. Wireless WANS are the fastest growing marketplace, forecast to reach US$9B by 2004.
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