Vodafone KK recently said that it will stop rolling out new 2G handsets in 2005 in an attempt to encourage adoption of 3G handsets and facilitate migration into the more advanced services. By shifting its handset strategy, the Japanese unit of Vodafone Group PLC is aiming to drive up the share of 3G services to 50% of its total mobile connections by March 2007.

 

Currently, of Vodafone KK's 15 million subscribers, only approximately 300,000 use 3G handsets.

 

In addition to the shift in its handset lineup, Vodafone KK indicated it is mulling over concluding 2G services, yet stopped short of giving a timetable.

Another major operator, DoCoMo, earlier also made decisions to conclude its main 2G line in the near future and 2G services by 2012. KDDI stopped introducing 2G handsets in March 2002.