NTT Planning WiMax Tests

NTT, Japan’s largest telecommunications group, plans to test WiMax technology as early as next month. Group companies will work together on trials of WiMax technology, said Masao Nakamura, president and CEO of NTT DoCoMo. Nakamura, who shared only a few details of the planned tests, confirmed that NTT DoCoMo would be one of the participants. Previously, NTT DoCoMo said it intended to push the 3G technology WCDMA to faster speeds. The “Super 3G” service will offer data transmission rates as high as 100Mbit/s and could be available in metropolitan areas as soon as 2008. 

WiMax is a high-speed wireless data transmission technology with benefits that fall between existing wired and cellular technologies. Tests of the technology are already underway in several countries and certification of WiMax equipment has begun. How long the tests will run is unclear, however. “We’re not going to be all that slow,” said Nakamura. “It’s not going to be a drawn out process, hopefully. We hope to be able to do something starting from next month.” The tests will look at a number of issues including actual throughput and potential interference to other services, he said. Continue