DoCoMo Dealing with 3G Data Congestion

NTT DoCoMo and it’s regional subsidiaries announced today that they would separately manage call and data packet transmission congestion over the 3G FOMA network to prevent voice traffic congestion control from affecting packet communication traffic and vice versa. Currently, excessive congestion in either voice or data transmissions can force DoCoMo to limit network usage for both voice and data in order to prevent network breakdown.

From the Press Release

One result of the move is the increased ability to successfully transmit text messages via i-mode mail, or to DoCoMo’s i-mode Disaster Message Board service, even if voice traffic should rise sharply during a major disaster. The i-mode Disaster Message Board service, launched on January 17, 2004, enables i-mode subscribers to post text messages on a special i-mode site.

The new system will initially apply only to selected handsets — D902iS, F902iS, N902iS, P902iS, SH902iS, DOLCE SL, SH702iS, D702iF, N702iS, P702iD, and N902iX HIGH-SPEED.

[A clear indication that increasing data packets, 20% of ARPU in Q1 FYE 2007, is already starting to become a network issue — Eds]