TOKYO—Some 20 leading Japanese companies led by NTT DoCoMo, Hitachi and Toyota Motor Company, set up a forum aimed at launching highly accurate satellite communications services for mobile equipment in 2008 at the earliest.
Using three satellites, the futuristic satellite communications system will be able to provide high-resolution motion pictures and voice data for mobile terminals, the companies said. The firms are planning to start launching the satellites and constructing the communications networks with 100 billion yen (US$748 million) in 2005 at the earliest.
The Japanese Telecom Ministry is going to lend help for the initiative and will launch talks with other nations to secure necessary orbit and frequencies for the services.
Conventional satellite communications services are being provided by a stationary satellite above the equator. Due to the position, radio communications via satellites tend to be interrupted, which causes deterioration of images.
