Japan, China to Launch 4G Joint Research

The government-affiliated Communications Research Laboratory and private-sector companies will team up with Chinese research institutions and firms this autumn on a project to develop a technology standard for 4G mobile telephony, sources familiar with the matter said. NTT Communications Corp, KDDI Corp, Hitachi, Ltd, NEC Corp and Fujitsu Ltd will also be among the Japanese participants.

They will seek to develop a common format for Japan and China by the end of 2005 and sell the technology to other East Asian countries, where great demand is projected for 4G cellular phone services when they become available around 2010. The joint project is also aimed at countering a Western initiative expected to start in 2005 under the auspices of the International Telecommunication Union. Continue >>