Japan wants to launch 5G mobile networks by 2020

Japan is aiming to launch 5G by 2020 ahead of other countries with support from the Japanese government. Japan is hoping to become the industry leader in 5G, paving the way for other countries to adopt its 5G technology as a global standard. Theoretically, 5G mobile networks will be able to provide a transfer speed of ten gigabits a second, which is a monstrous amount of data compared to current 4G data transfer rates. The data speed is in anticipation for the impending possibility and availability of ultra high-definition media that will become standard in a few years.

Trust the Japanese to remain at the heart of the bleeding edge of technology. Earlier today, we did mention about how Toshiba and NTT are looking at the possibility of broadcasting the 2020 Olympics that will be held in Tokyo in 8K resolution, and here we are with yet another possible milestone for the country to “achieve” by the time 2020 arrives. In a nutshell, Japan wants to be the industry leader in 5G connectivity while forging ahead with the technology so that other countries will follow in their wake, adopting 5G technology as a global standard to boot. The Communications Ministry of Japan wants to work alongside companies in the private sector in order to discuss the development of 5G technologies, where all of the three major mobile carriers, NTT Docomo, KDDI and SoftBank, are tipped to be part of the discussion. Apart from that, manufacturers of handsets and base stations, such as Panasonic, Sharp and Fujitsu, too, will be part of the deal, and the ministry itself could look to raise funds in order to develop 5G handsets using the fiscal 2015 budget.