Combine JCI's constant agitating of the incumbent players with Softbank being finally allowed to compete on a level playing field, and we finally (hopefully) will see true innovation in pricing and products in Japan. Docomo will no longer be able to relax and rely on government protection.
Compatibility with other carriers
See here for a comparison table of Japanese carriers. Here is a broader table showing worldwide LTE deployment.Internationally, FDD-LTE is the standard most used. TD-LTE was developed in China and is only used domestically by SBM, and Japan is the only country using Band I (2100 MHz). As far as I can tell, US AT&T is using Band IV (AWS) and will not be compatible with any SBM's upcoming network. This means that, unless Apple uses a multiband LTE radio, iPads and iPhones that would support LTE on SBM will need a specifically tweaked radio.
Domestically, Unlocked Xi devices should technically be compatible with Softbank's upcoming FDD-LTE network (and vice versa). However, it is expected that the SBM will use their newly acquired 900 MHz band (Band VIII) for FDD-LTE, which will be incompatible with DCM. [UPDATE: SBM is using it for 3G currently but plans to move it to LTE in 2014.] Therefore, while devices should be swappable between these two carriers, it may be difficult to get a signal in the mountains or underground (similar to current situation on Softbank's 3G network).
KDDI will continue to use CDMA-2000 for voice, even after starting their Band I 2100 MHz FDD-LTE network at the end of the year, so AU phones will remain incompatible with the other domestic carriers. EAccess (Emoblie) is the only domestic carrier not awarded either a 2100 MHz allocation or a low frequency "platinum" band.
With 900MHz (Band VIII), what is the reason for "it may be difficult to get a signal in the mountains or underground (similar to current situation on Softbank's 3G network)"
ReplyDeleteI thought that this is exactly the kind of obstacle that the 900MHz frequency can overcome.
...if using an unlocked device intended for use on the Docomo Xi network, not when using a SBM device with a 900MHz-capable radio.
ReplyDeleteLike Sven says, I meant that to be in reference to using an unlocked DCM/SBM LTE device on SBM/DCM. They will probably only work with the high frequencies, since DCM uses 800 MHz and SBM uses 900.
ReplyDeleteOh...now I understand.
ReplyDeleteWell I am using 001HT and SC-04D, so really looking forward to the "Platinum" band.
For SC-04D, although Docomo says only 800 and 2100MHz, but most folks say that the hardware is same and so flashing an international baseband should enable the pentaband functionality.