TOKYO-NTT Group is performing a field test for a very high-speed wireless system based on NTT’s proprietary advanced wireless access (AWA) technology. Unlike conventional wireless LAN systems, NTT’s Biportable 5 GHz system provides up to 36 Mbps data rates. NTT Corp., the holding company of NTT Group and NTT East Corp. (a regional operator), are jointly promoting the field test by donating terminals to 20 households in Tokyo and setting up terminals at 16 sites-video rental stores, hotels, universities-around the Shibuya area. Shibuya is a lively area in the heart of Tokyo geared mostly for young people. Based on the six-month field test, NTT anticipates the launch of the commercial service launch, at the earliest, next year.
NTT is advancing its broadband business. On Aug. 1, NTT launched a fiber-optic service capable of 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps data transmission rates that targets individual households. Separately, aimed at expanding its customer base, NTT mid-July significantly reduced its service prices for asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) and integrated services digital network (ISDN) services. NTT is planning to make the Biportable one of the main services in the broadband era. Biportable stands for broadband IP platform with optical and radio technical ability.
NTT Access Service System Laboratories, one of NTT’s 12 R&D centers, developed the AWA technology used in the high-speed service. The system consists of the Biportable networks, base stations and terminals. With a wireless card, users can receive the service via a personal digital assistant (PDA) or personal computer (PC). Fiber-optic networks link the base stations with the Biportable network, and wireless links (5 GHz band) connect each base station and terminal. Each base station can handle up to 122 terminals. The coverage is confined to an area within a 100-meter radius and therefore the service is suitable for spot information.
In May, Japan Speed Net, a subsidiary of Tokyo Electric Power, initiated wireless LAN 2.4 GHz services in the Tokyo metropolitan area. NTT claims its Biportable service is superior because it offers faster data transmission speed than wireless LAN (with a maximum data transmission speed of 11 Mbps). In addition, according to NTT, unlike wireless LAN, Biportable will guarantee the bandwidth between a base station and a terminal, provide user certification, identify the location of each terminal and provide faster throughput than wireless LAN especially when traffic increases.
NTT DoCoMo will launch commercial based 3G service in October (DoCoMo already launched experimental 3G services in May on a limited basis). NTT again claims its Biportable service is superior because it can provide 36 Mbps speed. Although, NTT DoCoMo’s 3G service can provide up to 384 kbps and may provide up to 2 Mbps in the near future.
The six-month field test is not just aimed at demonstrating the technology to the public; the operator also wants the user to experience high-speed data transfer. Working with several companies and technical colleges and universities, NTT is going to develop content that requires 36 Mbps data transmission speed.
Terminals that are being used in the field test are heavy and large. NTT said it plans develop a much smaller and lighter PDA and PC card for Biportable services by the commercial service launch date.
