Japan’s Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications recently released the basic guidelines for fixed wireless access systems. The MPT expects new common carriers (NCCs) that have not entered the access lines business because of high construction costs may enter the last-mile business using wireless.
Jun Okayama, director of the MPT’s trunk communications division, said the MPT is hoping the introduction of wireless systems will promote local competition. The MPT will start accepting applications for the service at the end of this year at the earliest, with the first network launches expected in spring 1999.
NTT East and NTT West, two local telephone companies scheduled to be born in July 1999, will not be allowed to enter the fixed wireless access business until at least April 2001.
The MPT also recently announced it will launch next April a multimedia experiment using PHS (Personal Handyphone Service) at Nanking University, in Nanking City, China.
According to its plan, a wireless local area network system using PHS will be constructed at the university that will let Chinese students access data through the LAN at any place on the campus. The educational materials will be sent from Hokkaido Information University, northern Japan, to Nanking University via satellite.
Matsushita Communication Industrial Co. Ltd. will provide 110 PHS terminals, a switch and 68 base stations on campus.
After a one-year test, the results will be reviewed by both Japanese and Chinese experts. The Japanese government is encouraging Asian nations that do not have well-established communications infrastructure to introduce the less costly PHS system.
