Japanese telco announced a contract with Smart Communications
Japanese telecom operator NTT DoCoMo announced it will provide mobile network consulting services to overseas mobile operators.
Starting Nov. 23, the Japanese operator said it will provide network consulting services to Philippines-based Smart Communications, focusing on improvement and optimization of radio network quality in the city of Manila.
“NTT DoCoMo now aims to contribute to enriched smart-communication lifestyles worldwide by drawing on its extensive experience and expertise in Japan, where it operates one of the world’s most advanced cellular networks,” the telco said in a statement.
The company serves more than 68 million mobile customers in Japan. The carrier is working on the future development of a “5G” network, which it expects to deploy in Japan by 2020. The telco also offers network functions virtualization, NFC infrastructure and services and emerging “Internet of Things” solutions. Outside Japan, the company is providing technical and operational expertise to seven mobile operators and other partner companies.
Myanmar open to award LTE spectrum
In other APAC news, the government of Myanmar said it will offer spectrum for local mobile operators to launch LTE services as soon as those operators announce plans to launch LTE-based services.
Local mobile operators Telenor Myanmar and state-owned Myanma Posts and Telecommunications offer both 2G and 3G services, while Ooredoo Myanmar operates a 3G network.
Ooredoo said it would consider launching LTE services if enough mobile users switched to LTE-enabled smartphones, company spokeswoman Thiri Kyar Nyo told The Myanmar Times.
“The quality of our 3G network is almost as high as a 4G network, so we won’t upgrade the service if only a few people will use it. If all our subscribers switch to a 4G handset, we will provide the network,” she said.
Telenor also said it will consider launching an LTE network once there are sufficient LTE-enabled mobile phones in use in the local market.
