NTT DoCoMo 3G FOMA subscribers reaches 2 million

January 29, 2004

NTT DoCoMo announced that subscribers to the 3G FOMA service surpassed two million, two years and four months after the service was launched.

FOMA subscribers, having doubled in the last four months, reached the two million mark approximately two months ahead of DoCoMo's forecast. DoCoMo attributes this rapid increase to increasingly advanced handsets, expanded nationwide coverage and greater availability of service in indoor areas.

DoCoMo will soon launch the new 900i (click here for photos) series, the most advanced FOMA handsets ever. Models in the series weigh approximately 115 grams, equivalent to the weights of 2G mova handsets. They also boast a battery standby time of approximately 500 static hours. DoCoMo expects the impending launch of the 900i series to fuel a sharp increase in FOMA subscribers.

Meanwhile, DoCoMo continues to enhance FOMA's service quality. By the end of March, service coverage will reach 99% of Japan's population and indoor base stations will increase to 1,600 for expanded service inside major buildings, underground malls and subway stations. The expansion speed of FOMA's coverage area for indoor base stations is four times faster than that of PDC.