Category: Japan

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UQ Communications Data Cards and Chip Vendors

UQ USB

As previously reported, UQ communications will start Mobile WiMAX trial on the 26th of February.

Since I am familiar with the WiMAX technology and Chipset vendors, I decided to research the devices to be used during the trial and Chipset vendors selected by UQ and it’s suppliers.

UQ has currently two suppliers:

1) Shinsei Corporation – Supplying the UD01SS USB and the UD02SS Express Card. Accoring to UQ website, these products are actually from a Korean company – Modacom. Modacom has a complete portfolio of devices for the Korean WiBRO network (WiBRO is almost identical to WiMAX). These devices use GCT WiMAX chipset. This screen capture displays device driver information, which clearly indicates GCT.

2) NEC Access Technica – Supplying the UD-01NA USB and UD-02NA PCMCIA Card type. NEC uses Beceem chipset.

Missing from the list are:

1) Samsung – which supplied the data cards to Sprint’s XOHM WiMAX deployment in Baltimore.

2) Sequans Communications – which power Zyxel’s CPE for the same Xohm deployment.

3) Intel – As Intel Capital invested in UQ, I am certain we will see Intel powered WiMAX laptop within a few months.

I cannot avoid mentioning the UQ connection manager, which in my opinion looks very similar to the KT connection Manager. (And I must admit that also Airspan’s MiMAX USB, which I developed, had the same look and feel).

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UQ Communications and me

I have just posted on Asiajin the latest news from UQ communications. As the company prepares for the launch in July, an extensive trail period is expected. I am trying to enroll as a “Monitor”(a trial participant), but the chances are slim.

Every time I encounter a WiMAX deployment, I immediately check coverage. As I happen to move to Kawasaki in about 3 weeks, I decided to check if I can get a WiMAX signal at home.

Map is attached, but I am afraid I cannot conclude from the resolution provided if our house is in the pink (there is coverage) or white (no WiMAX for me).

UQ Kajigaya Service Area

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KDDI's AU Box reached 100,00 subscribers

KDDI just announced (Japanese) that the number of subscriptions to to the AU Box has reached 100,000 in two months. Reminder, the AU Box is a STB (Set Top Box) that can play DVDs, connect to Lismo Music and Video Shop as well as transfer content to Mobile devices.

This sounds very impressive, but considering the ridiculous price of about $3 per month is it hardly surprising. It will be more interesting to know how the KDDI AU box contributed to the Lismo business, how many Video/Music downloads came from AU Boxes in the past two months.

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Japanese Mobile Operators

Some more information from the Japenese MIC (Internal affairs and Communications).

Share of Carriers in subscription for Cellular Phones and PHS:

japan-mobile-operators

Docomo still lead, while KDDI increase their market share.

As for LTE: KDDI, Docomo and Softbank already have LTE plans, so it seems the future competition in Japan will not be about Cellular Technology and Coverage, but for additional services (and marketing).

Softbank, while pursuing LTE technology and supposedly selected Huawei for trial, also prefers to deploy HSPA+ while waiting for the LTE market to mature and cost to be driven down.

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Japanese Ministry of Communications report

MIC – Japanese Ministry of Internal affairs and Communications recently issued a Statistics report on Subscribers to Telecommunications Services. The report is interesting, but not very surprising:

The total number of contracts for subscriber telephones (and ISDN) is decreasing, as of the end of Sep. 2008 was 49.539 Million.

Landline phones - Japan

Mobile Phones (and PHS) are on the rise, with 109.420 Million Subscribers. The only PHS provider is Willcom:

Mobile Users Japan

The only part that was a bit surprising is the adoption of IP telephony. In the past I have suggested my wife to use a 050 IP phone for our communication with Japan, and she objected claiming that Japanese do not want to call 050 phones as they are “strange” and “different” than the normal numbering plan. Guess what, she was wrong:

The number of IP phone users as of the end of September 2008 was 19.047 million. This is an 18.2%
increase from the same period of last year, and this increasing trend continues. The increase in the
users of IP phones with the 0AB-J number structure (10 digits, starting with a zero) is especially
remarkable, with a 60.6% year-on-year increase

IP Phones usage - Japan

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WiMAX Forum praises the 3.9G Report published by the Telecommunications Council of Japan MIC

WiMAX Forum PR

Mobile WiMAX is currently available only for TDD, while Release 1.5 will introduce FDD. Most cellular technologies today are FDD based, while LTE is defined for both. (Did I mention LTE and Mobile WiMAX are not that different?)

Rule Number One of Wireless Communications: No Spectrum -> No Business
(Well, except non-licensed band, but let’s keep it for another Post).

This is an important step taken by the Japanese regulator to push IMT-2000 and Advanced forward, and allowing Japanese Mobile operators the room to grow!

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Docomo produces LTE chipset

This Press Release really is really confusing.

Docomo, as in “Japan Mobile Operator DoCoMo” has developed a MIMO LTE chip. I can understand why LG is doing so, but Docomo?

Do they really plan to sell the chips to Mobile phone manufactures?

I can only think of one reason, which is that Docomo wanted to push the LTE market. Developing a chipset was probably the best solution.

This excerpt is the perfect example of “Too much information”:

In the new chip, which is made with 65-nanometer processing, the circuits have been further optimized, particularly by eliminating redundant circuits for computationally complex processes such as MIMO-signal detection and error-correction decoding

Do I really care about the complexity of the process?

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UQ communication to offer WiFi Services

Today’s Press Release (Japanese) expose some new UQ plans:
WiFi services for the N700 Shinkansen service. According to the PR, the N700 train will get a 2Mbps coverage, and following that all 17 stations from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka will be covered as well (54Mbps).

Japan Railywas are one of UQ investors, so it is not surprising to hear that UQ will provide coverage to the train. It is surprising that they chose WiFi Coverage for the stations.

And a question that sprung to my mind: Does it mean that PC Cards/USB Dongles will be Dual mode (WiMAX/WiFi)?

Interesting! let’s wait and see.

N700 photo (taken by my wife):

N700 Logo

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On Advanced PHS (XGP)

An interesting article on the differences between “Willcom WiMAX” and Mobile Wimax – Link.

The PHS MOU is the consrotium standartizing PHS, Advanced PHS (XGP), with a long list of participating companies. However, Willcom is today the only PHS provider in Japan with about 4.6 Million subscribers (I should write ONLY 4.6 Million subscribers).

It will be interesting to see what Willcom will deploy next year and will they be able grab a bigger market share.

Maybe one more thing about Advanced PHS:

Altair Semiconductors, a Israeli startup has already published they plan to supply Willcom with 4G (XGP) chipsets , and shortly after secured a $22 Million in series C funding .

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Fujitsu LTE

Fujitsu LTE website shows two LTE webstation, called the BBU and RRU, but does not describe the difference between them. I did not attend CEATEC Japan, but the page shows two photos taken at the event.

If seems like the key differentiator for Fujitsu is the 4×4 MIMO!

It will be interesting to see how Fujitsu will compete with Ericsson, the lead LTE vendor, for the Docomo deployment.

See press releases from both vendors:

1) Docomo Ericsson LTE

2) NSN, Fujitsu Team for Docomo LTE