Internet service provider eAccess Ltd. has announced it will start offering mobile phone service in the Kanto, Chubu and Kansai regions in February 2008 and expand into the rest of Japan two to three years later.
Cell phone service will be preceded by the launch of data communications services next March, the company said Monday.
EAccess received authorization from the government in November to enter the third-generation mobile phone service market.
The company said it will procure equipment from Ericsson AB of Sweden to create a proprietary network.
Under its cell phone plan, eAccess will raise 300 billion yen to 400 billion yen by the end of March, including more than 100 billion yen in capital to be contributed by an investment fund affiliated with U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc. and other concerns.