DoCoMo To Expand 3G Coverage To All Cities
2/22/2002
BWCS Staff NTT DoCoMo has announced plans to extend the coverage of its 3G service FOMA to all major Japanese cities by the end of April. The company has also set itself a target of achieving 90% population coverage by the end March 2003. In the first phase of the FOMA service expansion the regional operators DoCoMo Tokai and DoCoMo Kansai will increase their service areas, while DoCoMo Hokkaido, DoCoMo Tohoku, DoCoMo Hokuriku, DoCoMo Chugoku, DoCoMo Shikoku and DoCoMo Kyushu will launch FOMA services in major cities within their franchise areas from 1 April.
Crucially the Japanese operator has also unveiled plans to introduce dual-network FOMA/PDC services early in the third quarter of 2002. This will allow mobile users to have a single number for their FOMA and second generation PDC handsets. Prior to the availability of single number services DoCoMo is offering a range of discounts to subscribers with two mobile subscriptions. While the launch of a single number service represents a step in the right direction, many analysts believe that 3G services will not be widely adopted unless dual-mode handsets, which allow subscribers to roam seamlessly between 2G and 3G networks and to be charged via a single bill, are made available.
In a further development DoCoMo has introduced a second 3G videophone handset. As well as enabling mobile users to view each other while they talk, the new device also contains a second camera which allows them to record and transmit digital photos and video clips using DoCoMo’s i-motion service. Subscribers will also be able to download streamed video clips from the 37 content sites affiliated to the i-motion service
