NTT DoCoMo plans launch 3G service in October

TOKYO—NTT DoCoMo, the leading mobile carrier in Japan, announced it will launch next-generation service on 1 October, as scheduled, with lower communications fees and a variety of charging programs. DoCoMo is providing 3G service to selected users on a trial basis from 30 May through 30 September. Basically the service menu for its commercial-based 3G service will remain the same as the experimental services. However, DoCoMo will provide six packaged payment plans, and, in addition, it will provide four packaged plans for data (or packet communications). The service area initially will be limited to the central part of Tokyo metropolitan area. The company plans to launch the 3G service in Nagoya and Osaka by the end of this year; launch all major cities around the country by 2002; and achieve 97-percent coverage by March 2004. DoCoMo expects to have 17 million users by March 2004.