French firm opens R&D centre in Beijing
By Zhang Di (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-06-06 10:07
French company 6WIND launched a research and development (R&D) centre in
Beijing yesterday to more effectively capitalize on the IPv6 market in
China.
The leading provider of key IPv6 networking software will increase
its headcount in the centre from six to 25 by the end of this year, but declined
to specify the amount invested.
The new centre aims to enhance the speed
of delivery of its software products to local customers, said Alain Daste, chief
executive officer of 6WIND.
"With the help of our software, clients here
can develop their networking equipment and systems more quickly," he
said.
Daste also attributed the launch of the centre in Beijing to the
opportunities brought by the good IPv6 technology environment in
China.
IPv6, the sixth version of Internet protocol, is the
next-generation Internet technology and will integrate the Internet, wireless
and mobile communications networks.
"The ecosystem for the IPv6 community
and industry is gaining momentum, especially in Asia and China," said Jesse
Zhang, managing director of 6WIND China.
China has built up its CERNET
(China Education and Research Network) 1 and 2, two IPv6-based backbone
networks, together with Chinese telecoms operators.
In May 2005, the
Ministry of Information Industry and the French Ministry of Industry signed a
memorandum of understanding on IPv6 co-operation between the two
countries.
Zhang said: "China and other Asian countries are far ahead of
anywhere else in the world in terms of technology applications, which is
illustrated by the popularity of text messaging and peer-to-peer
technologies."
6WIND has strong expertise in the development of
value-added applications for IPv6 technology and can help Chinese customers make
the transition from IPv4, which is in use on the current Internet, to IPv6, he
said.
The Beijing R&D centre will work closely with the company's
local customers and research institutions, like the Chinese Academy of Science,
and universities.
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