Japan Gets Ready for “3.9G”
Japan’s four major mobile operators will spend more than JPY 1 trillion over the next five years on fourth generation networks.
The 4G networks, known as 3.9G in Japan, will use LTE technology.
Spectrum and network applications are due with the Japanese communications minstry on May 7, with awards to be announced in the Summer.
NTT DoCoMo plans to launch a 3.9G service in 2010, while Softbank Mobile is expected to launch its 3.9G service in 2011 or 2012.
Emobile and KDDI are likely to launch in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
LTE Devices: DoCoMo chooses LG Electronics
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo has announced LG Electronics will provide data modem devices for DoCoMo’s LTE service.
Data modem devices enable notebook PCs, Netbooks, and Mobile Internet Devices to connect to the current 3.5G (HSPA) services as well as the future 4G services from DoCoMo.
DoCoMo says it plans to launch the new LG LTE modem with its commercial LTE service in 2010.
According to researcher from Strategy Analytics, worldwide sales of LTE products will reach 70 million units in 2012 – expanding to 150 million units by 2013.
