WiMAX in Japan update
in this post I will attempt to summarise my limited knowledge on the current situation for WiMAX in Japan. so far I have touched on WiMAX twice:- 2007/10 - applications for 2.5GhZ spectrum licenses
- 2007/12 - granting of licenses to KDDI and Wilcom
UQ Communications
- 2008/3 - the KDDI led coalition changes its name from 'Wireless Broadband Planning' to UQ Communications, and carries through with initial investment commitments from KDDI, Intel Capital, JR East, Kyocera, Daiwa Securities and Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ Bank.
- 2008/3~7 - holds information sessions for possible interested MVNOs
- 2009/2/28 - will start trial of WiMAX in Tokyo, Kawasaki and Yokohama areas.
- 2009/summer - extends service to 3 metropolises - Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka.
- 2012 - start national coverage
- 2008/5 - announces plans for 'next generation PHS' service named WILLCOM CORE which will allow steady transfer speeds of up to 100Mbps even with mobility of over 300km/h (can be used on the Shinkansen). like LTE, 'next generation PHS' is broadly similar to WiMAX but of course has several major technical differences.
- 2009/spring - plans to start the service in Tokyo area, with roll out to the 3 metropolises by autumn.
- Kyocera display handsets and base equipment mockups of next generation PHS, WiMAX and iBurst.
- Fujitsu display WiMAX capable data cards as well as the competing LTE (Super 3G) technology developed with docomo.
- UQ Communications president Tanaka-san appeals with vision and benefits of WiMAX. rather than UQ branded data cards, terminals, etc. UQ will leave that up to the makers and MVNOs. there is plans to have WiMAX equipped PCs by summer 2009 (no doubt with a little help from Intel).
- au booth displays some WiMAX MID prototypes along side WiMAX handsets and UMPCs currently being used abroad.
- NEC also participate in the WiMAX Forum Pavillion at the event, displaying Indoor Units, Outdoor Units and promotional videos of their WiMAX trials in Taiwan.
Labels: WiMAX
