Japan to Allocate 2.5GHz Wireless Frequency Bands to Newcomers
May 18, 2007
Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications recently announced its plan to award 2.5GHz wireless frequency bands for next-generation mobile broadband services to one or two newcomers, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Acca Networks, a high-speed broadband operator, and Willcom, Japan's largest operator of the PHS (Personal Handy phone System) service, are reported to be the favored candidates. Telecom giants, including NTT DoCoMo, KDDI, SoftBank, and Emobile, will be disqualified according to requirements and conditions put forward by the ministry. Acca plans to offer WiMAX service based on the 2.5GHz frequency band, and Willcom is expected to utilize its own-developed next-generation PHS technology. Results of the frequency band allocation are slated for finalization in autumn 2007 at the earliest.