SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. will team with KDDI Corp. to explore broadcasting wireless video programming to subscribers of the Japanese operator.
The companies will establish MediaFlo Japan Planning Inc., a joint venture to examine licensing spectrum necessary to build a MediaFlo network in Japan. Japan’s second-largest wireless carrier is making an initial investment of $85,000 in the project, and will hold 80 percent of the company. Qualcomm will own the remaining 20 percent.
The news comes just days after NTT DoCoMo Inc. announced a $185 million investment in Fuji Television Network Inc. in an effort to develop new mobile communications and broadcasting services. And it marks another win for Qualcomm, which notched its first carrier deal several weeks ago when Verizon Wireless said it will use Qualcomm’s MediaFlo network to broadcast video content to its subscribers.
MediaFlo is expected to come online in the United States by late next year; KDDI is the first operator outside the country to publicly express an interest in the technology. Qualcomm is spending $800 million to build out its U.S. mobile TV infrastructure.
