HIROSHIMA, Japan – GTE Personal Communications Services and AirTouch Communications have become partners in Digital TU-KA Chugoku Co. Ltd., a Japan-based cellular communications company formed by Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and Japan Telecom Co. Ltd.
GTE and AirTouch each have 4.5 percent ownership in the new company, headquartered in Hiroshima. TU-KA Chugoku plans to kick off a 1.5 GHz digital cellular system in 1996, servicing 85 percent of Chugoku’s population, including Hiroshima and the surrounding areas.
Japan is the world’s second largest cellular market, next to the United States, but still has room for dramatic growth, AirTouch said. AirTouch also has shares in Japan’s Digital Cellular companies of Tokyo, Kansai and Central Japan, which launched commercial service earlier this year and jointly serve more than 110,000 customers.
GTE also has four other partnerships with TU-KA companies in other Japanese cities.
Digital TU-KA Chugoku includes partners from two groups that have established new cellular ventures in Japan: the TU-KA Phone Group and the Digital Phone Group. The new company will provide nationwide mobile communications service.
Nissan and Japan Telecom each own a 23.75 percent interest in the new company. Other partners are Hitachi Ltd. and West Japan Railway, each with a 5.5 percent stake, and Nippon Steel Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., each with a 5 percent stake.
