Two Japanese mobile operators – NTT Docomo and eAccess – have been awarded spectrum in the 700MHz band by the ministry of communications.
A third operator, KDDI, is also reported to have received the coveted spectrum.
Docomo stated that it plans…
Two Japanese mobile operators – NTT Docomo and eAccess – have been awarded spectrum in the 700MHz band by the ministry of communications.
A third operator, KDDI, is also reported to have received the coveted spectrum.
Docomo stated that it plans “to begin offering LTE services using the 700MHz band in January 2015.”
Meanwhile, eAccess said that “700MHz band, also known as ‘platinum band’, enables more efficient area expansion compared to 1.7GHz band in which eAccess is currently operating. With this first platinum band, eAccess intends to effectively utilise the 700MHz band to further deploy LTE.”
KDDI was not immediately available for comment.
In early March, Softbank, the fourth mobile operator in Japan, had been awarded spectrum in the 900MHz band, which, just like 700MHz, is also described as ‘platinum band’.
The company said at the time that the spectrum “will enable more efficient and wider coverage compared to the existing [Softbank] band. Communication services using the 900MHz band are expected to launch on 25 July 2012.”
