KDDI Mobile WiMAX

These news are already old, but I was just too busy posting this entry.

KDDI has formed an alliance to bid for the lucrative 2.5GHz Mobile WiMAX license.
Named “Wireless Broadband Planning K.K” (WBPK), the company will receive an investment of 850 million YEN (~7 million dollars). I assume this is the only initial investment as it is obviously a small sum that is not even getting close to actual deployment (See sprint investment).

The group is comprised of KDDI, Intel, JR East, Kyocera, Daiwa, and Tokyo-Mitsubishi bank.

If you remember, the Japanese Ministry of communications (MIC) wanted to increase competition in the Japanese wireless industry. Therefore they do not allow the “big players” to own more than 33% of the companies that enter the 2.5GHz bid.
This link has the press conference slides. I may translate them at a later date.
If I have to bet, I guess DoCoMO (with ACCA) and KDDI (with this new consortium) will win the bid

disclaimer: This is a personal blog. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer. (I am working for a WiMAX equipment vendor).