KDDI Opts for LTE

The second largest mobile operator in Japan, KDDI, has announced it will install a next-generation Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network with Hitachi and Nortel collaborating on the core. The new LTE network will provide KDDI with an overlay to its existing CDMA system. This, the company said in a statement, will enable it to transmit more bandwidth-heavy multimedia content and applications. The network will also help lower costs at KDDI and ensure seamless interoperability with the current 3G CDMA network. KDDI has some 30 million mobile customers.

In October of this year, Japanese mobile newcomer, Emobile said it would seek a trial LTE licence from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The company, which currently has no network of its own, said it plans to hold a field trial during the first five months of 2009 in the Shimbashi area of the Minato ward in Tokyo. Emobile says it aims to adopt LTE during the first half of 2011.

Emobile which is the brain-child of former KDDI founder, Sachio Semmoto, features no monthly subscription charges and was the first new entrant to the already saturated Japanese mobile market for many years. The service was launched in March 2008 and offers users unlimited calling packages for Yen980 a month - matching offers from rival Softbank. 

Competition in the Japanese mobile market has intensified since Softbank cut its call prices and monthly charges late last year. KDDI Corp, countered with a package that doesn't charge for calls between family members.