TOKYO—DDI Pocket, Japan’s largest PHS operator, is going to launch a 128 kilobits per second (kbps) data transmission service on 26 March, the carrier announced on 17 January.
DDI Pocket, the PHS business unit of KDDI, is currently providing a 32 kbps data service with a monthly flat rate of 4,930 yen (US$37) per month. Starting on 26 March, DDI Pocket users can send and receive data at 128 kbps once they pay an additional 3,500 yen (US$26.50) per month, for a total monthly payment of 8,430 yen (US$64) per month.
According to DDI Pocket, the carrier will offer the speedier service by using four conventional network lines for 32 kbps services.
DDI Pocket is the largest PHS operator in Japan with 2.95 million subscribers. Because PHS user numbers have been decreasing, partly due to the cellular phone boom during the past several years, DDI is putting an emphasis on high-speed data services.
