WILLCOM obtained license to use 2.5GHz radio frequency in order to carry out BWA* service in Japan.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on December 21st that the licenses to use the 2.5GHz radio frequency on condition of carrying out BWA service were granted to WILLCOM Corp. for Next-Generation PHS service and KDDI Alliance for WiMAX service.

While any of the investors of an existing 3G operator can apply for the 2.5GHz license as long as it holds less than one third of the operator, application from any of the 3G operators itself is not accepted. At this time when license is granted, the way to use the license is still under discussion.

As a result, WILLCOM won one license for Next-Generation PHS, and the other license went to the alliance of the three 3G operators who support WiMAX and applied the license to commercialize this BWA method via their investors who holds less than one third of the three operators each.

After a long time waiting, it turns out that there are only two licenses granted this time. One is for the Japan-generated technology of Next-Generation PHS and the other is for WiMAX advocated by Intel. Despite the fact that WiMAX has already become an international focus, Next-Generation PHS is superior at mobility comparing to other BWA systems. We believe that the service to be started by WILLCOM by 2009 will be worthy of your waiting and expectation.

*BWA refers to Broadband Wireless Access