TOKYO-Japanese ADSL high-speed Internet service provider Softbank applied for a license with the Japanese telecom regulator to test a third-generation mobile-phone technology, according to international press reports.
The company applied for a license for a field trial of TD-CDMA technology. There are no commercial 3G deployments of TD-CDMA technology.
Japan is a highly competitive 3G market, with NTT DoCoMo Inc. and Vodafone KK both offering W-CDMA services, and KDDI Corp. recently launching 1x EV-DO service in addition to its 1x offering.
If the company is granted a test license, it would still have to apply for a separate commercial license before beginning any commercial 3G services. Analysts said TD-CDMA technology could also be used to enhance Softbank’s existing telephony services.
