Japan is to open up its wireless telecommunications network operator market to new carriers when it allocates licenses for 2.5GHz spectrum for Wimax services, later this year.
Earlier this month, Japan’s Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry started accepting applications for licenses. All applications have to be in by October 12th.
The Ministry said it would issue two licenses by the end of the year, and both licenses will go to companies which are not existing cell phone carriers.
The Ministry’s rules for the licensing of the spectrum lay down that existing cell-phone carriers can only get access to 2.5GHz spectrum if they form a new company to apply for a license in which they do not have a share greater than one third.
Consequently Softbank, which is Japan’s third largest mobile carrier, has formed a new company, in which it has a 32.4 per cent share, to apply for a license. Internet access company eAccess also has a 32.4 per cent share in the new company and Goldman Sachs has a 22.4 per cent stake. Smaller stakes are held by other companies.
Japan’s No.2 cellular network operator, KDDI, has announced a similar collaboration for applying for a license. KDDI’s partners are Kyocera, Intel and East Japan Railway.
Japan’s No.1 cellular operator, NTT DoCoMo, is also expected to form a company to bid for a Wimax license. So far, its only likely partner is Internet access provider Acca Networks.
See also: Electronics Weekly's roundup of content related to WiMAX and wireless networking.
Subscribe to this blog's feed