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| Progress in broadband Internet service
in Japan |
| Companies offering broadband Internet
service via xDSLs, FTTH circuits, and CATV lines are increasing
their subscribers at a rapid pace. Intensifying price competition
has pushed xDSL service charges in Japan down to the lowest level
in the world. As a result, the number of DSLs in service reached
8,250,000 as of June 2003, representing a year-to-year increase
of approximately 250 percent. Internet users in Japan totaled 55,930,000
in 2001; it is estimated that the number will surpass 87,000,000
in 2005.
Meanwhile, i-mode cell phones and other mobile Internet terminals
registered for use in Japan totaled 56,350,000 units as of August
2002. This figure suggests that approximately half of the Japanese
population had mobile access to the Internet at that time. |
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No. of Registered Broadband Circuits
(Unit:
10,000 circuits) |
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Source: Ministry of Public Management, Home
Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications
Note: Broadband is a new high-speed, large-scale communications circuit
and cable is Internet connection service via cable-TV circuits. DSL
refers to a digital Internet connection circuit and FTTH indicates
an Internet service using an optical fiber circuit connection. The
total registered circuit number includes high-speed wireless Internet
connection service circuits. |
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International Comparison of Broadband Circuit (DSL) Connection Rates
(2002)
(Unit: JPY) |
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Source: Ministry of Public Management, Home
Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications
Note: One month represents 30 days, and rates are for a 24-hour Internet
connection. Rates for NTT East and Yahoo Japan are as of March 2002,
and all other rates are as of February 2002. Exchange rates: As of
2/1/2002. 1USD=JPY135.70, 1GBP=JPY194.10, 1EUR=JPY117.30, 1KRW=JPY0.1047. |
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Current Status of Third-Generation (Next-Generation) Mobile Phone
Services |
| Company |
NTT DoCoMo |
KDDI (au) |
| Communication Standard |
W-CDMA |
CDMA2000 1x |
| Speed |
384kbps |
144kbps |
| Mobile Phone Price |
JPY20,000-40,000 |
JPY3,000-20,000 |
| Registered Users |
133,500 people |
2,142,100 people |
| Main Functions |
videophone, camera, etc. |
Global Positioning System (GPS),
camera, etc. |
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Source: The Asahi Shimbun, Telecommunications
Carriers Association
Note: As of August 2002. |
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Number of xDSLs in service
(Unit: persons) |
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| Source: Ministry of Public Management, Home
Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications |
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