- Japanese telecom operator Softbank plans to use China Mobile's TD-LTE (Time Division-Long Term Evolution) technology for its PHS (Personal Handyphone System) following its takeover of the PHS service provider Willcom, to be completed in this Summer at the earliest, the Nikkei Business Daily Reported on April 28. Softbank's next-generation service based on TD-LTE technology is slated for commercialization in 2011. Softbank, the only supplier for Apple iPhone in Japan, however, declined to comment on the report.

 

This movie is aimed to help Softbank lower costs for equipment and base stations compliant with the PHS service. The PHS service is currently subject to higher costs of base stations and mobile phones as only few mobile phone makers such as Kyocera manufacture PHS phones.

 

Should Softbank successfully acquire Willcom, Softbank will possess Willcom's customer base of 4.2 million users and nationwide network of 16,000 relay stations, according again to the Nikkei, adding that Softbank will be likely to encourage these PHS users to switch to its TD-LTE service later. To date, more mobile phone makers have been dedicated to the development of mobile phones supporting China Mobile's TD-LTE standard such as Swedish Ericsson.