Softbank Proposes New Broadband Super Highway Initiative for Japan
November 05, 2010
Softbank
submitted a plan for fiber-optic network deployment in Japan to the Japanese
government, according to a November 1, 2010 report by Japan Today. Dubbed New
Broadband Super Highway, the plan is reported to involve the establishment of a
joint venture by Softbank with the Japanese government, NTT, and KDDI. It is
estimated that 500 billion Yens (US$6.2 billion; US$1=80.6 Yens) will be
invested in the joint venture. Currently, there are 40 million conventional
phone lines in Japan, according to the same source, and Softbank estimates that
it will take five years to replace the old lines with new fiber optics
throughout Japan.