Conference Program

Abstract

KDDI's Plan for Future Mobile Service: "Ultra 3G" Concept & FMBC Network
YUTAKA YASUDA, Vice President, General Manager of Corporate Technology Sector, KDDI, Japan

In many countries, 3G mobile is increasingly being used as an effective means of broadband access.  In Japan, percentage of 3G mobile phone users already exceeds 60% and smart phone users with Internet accessing capability reaches almost 90%.  In the 3G mobile service, every mobile phone has capability by which every user can enjoy various multimedia services including hi-fi music and/or high-quality video/movie.  In addition, some of mobile handsets can also be used for receiving one-segment terrestrial digital TV broadcasting from last spring in Japan.

Furthermore, the discussions have been already directed toward beyond 3G (B3G) or so-called 4G system in many forums.  In such future mobile access networks, it is anticipated that various broadband wireless access scheme as well as fixed communications network will be integrated with existing mobile network based on IP technology.  KDDI has already announced “Ultra 3G” concept for the future mobile communication network, in which mobile communications are integrated with fixed (broadband) communication network infrastructure including digital broadcasting as much as possible.  We call such a new network and/or service convergence as “FMBC (Fixed Mobile Broadcast Convergence)”.

This “Ultra 3G”concept will be effectively realized by introducing MMD (multimedia domain)/IMS platform on the all-IP core network, by which new network access communication media and/or service application can easily and flexibly be plugged into the MMD-controlled service layer.  The seamless communications service will be realized based on this integrated network infrastructure by employing various innovations such as cross-media hand-over and/or QoS (quality of service) control scheme over new IP-based core network.

Another important factor is enhancement of uplink (from mobile handset to network side) data communication capability.  As the first step to realize it, KDDI has introduced EV-DO Rev.A network at the end of 2006, by which various new service application in the Web 2.0 era will become available even through the mobile/wireless network.  In such a stage, appropriate traffic control scheme will also be essential to maintain healthy and reliable backbone and/or access network continuously.

In the near future, a mobile handset will be not only merely a mobile phone but also be a ‘personal communicator', which can be used for various purpose to make our daily life more convenient, secure and happier.  Such a portable and personal communicator with Internet accessing capability, which will be used in every time and from everywhere, will be a key factor for the forthcoming ‘Ubiquitous network society'.