Broadband Access

NTT puts Wi-Fi on the fast track

Plans to offer WLAN service on bullet trains

by Kendrick Struthers-Watson

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) has announced it plans to offer hotspot WLAN (wireless local area network) service in N700 series cars of the Tokaido Shinkansen (Bullet Train) between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, as well as in waiting lounges of all 17 stations along the route, beginning in March 2009.

On-board service will be introduced progressively from the start date when Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), which operates the Tokaido Shinkansen, revises its timetable. Services at individual stations will be launched at varying times within the month.

Hotspot subscribers will be able to log in to the on-board WLAN using any IEEE802.11b/g-compatible notebook PC, smartphone or other mobile device even when the train is travelling at a maximum speed of more than 270 kilometers per hour (approx 168 miles per hour). Access will simply require the usual username and password from any existing HOTSPOT, OPEN Plan, OPEN Plan Light or Prepaid 1 Day Passport account and no additional fee will be necessary.

JR Central has developed that on-board service in collaboration with NTT Broadband Platform. The on-board WLAN will be connected to leaky coaxial cable (LCX) and then signals will be transmitted to devices installed along the trackside where connection will be stable and operate at a maximum speed of 2 Mbps.

The M2M Switch - turning the wireless business model upside down -- September 1, 2010

Vivendi raises 2010 goals after strong first-half results -- September 1, 2010

FCC cuts off free nationwide broadband potential indefinitely -- September 1, 2010

Shipments of Bluetooth, NFC, UWB, 802.15.4 and Wi-Fi ICs will increase 20% in 2010 -- September 1, 2010

3PAR claims widespread uptake for VMware 'vSphere' service -- August 31, 2010

Related articles:

FCC cuts off free nationwide broadband potential indefinitely -- September 1, 2010
According to Silicon Valley-based M2Z Networks, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) notified M2Z and its Silicon Valley investors including Kleiner Perkins, Charles River Ventures, and Redpoint Ventures, that it has terminated the AWS-3 spectrum (2155-2180 MHz) public interest rulemaking, thereby closing off the possibility of providing free nationwide broadband service in the United States for the foreseeable future.

Allot releases World Cup Mobile Trends report -- July 28, 2010
Allot Communications Ltd. has released its new Allot MobileTrends World Cup Report. The report indicates that mobile broadband usage increased by 24% during the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches. Web browsing on mobile broadband experienced the sharpest growth with a 35% rise, while YouTube traffic rose significantly by 32% on post-match mornings.

Ericsson reports mobile subscriptions reach 5 billion -- July 13, 2010
This week marked yet another milestone in the internet becoming mobile when the 5 billionth mobile subscription added to the count, largely thanks to emerging markets like India and China.

Deltenna launches the 'Wireless Broadband Enabler' -- June 24, 2010
A device to deliver broadband to rural areas far from the DSL exchange was launched today by UK-based Deltenna. The small gadget, called the "WiBE" (Wireless Broadband Enabler), uses the 3G mobile network to create a 2Mbps web hotspot, even when a 3G mobile phone wouldn’t register a signal.

Keep up with the latest in Machine-to-Machine Communications:

Read M2M Newsdesk
News, research, show coverage and more, covering the M2M industry.

Visit the M2M Zone
M2M Zone Seminars offer the latest information, directly from industry leaders and experts. The M2M Zone is a fixture at top-shelf trade shows including CeBIT and CTIA Wireless. Learn more about what the M2M Zone offers.

©2010 Telecommunications Online & Horizon House Publications®.

All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.