Struggle for Spectrum in Japan
The ministry will allocate new wireless spectrum for the 700MHz and 900MHz range in 2012, it will be a critical decision: http://bit.ly/snQS1m
Competition grows fierce as Japan’s Softbank vies for new 900MHz spectrum
Things are heating up in Japan over the allocation next year of new 700MHz and 900MHz spectrum to build out mobile carriers’ existing infrastructure. The eventual decision stands to upend the state of Japanese wireless competition, and top executives are feeling the pressure. The results of the allocation will be announced in February for the 900MHz band and the second half of 2012 for the 700MHz band.
Junichi Miyakawa, the executive vice president, director and CTO of Softbank Mobile, was quoted in the Asahi Shimbun on Wednesday saying, “If we don’t get new frequency next year, it will topple our company.” Providers’ current access to spectrum is among the major considerations for increased allocation, making things effectively a two-horse race between the established Softbank and upstart eAccess.
Among the Ministry of Affairs and Internal Communications’ considerations for who to award the spectrum to are the ability to pay the expected 120 to 210 billion yen ($1.56 to $2.73 billion) in restructuring costs necessary to accommodate the new frequency. Additionally, the companies’ plans to meet the high-speed LTE standard, and current levels of network congestion figure into the process as well. Full article via The Verge.