Ericsson will provide 5G next-generation network deployment in Japan for communication service provider KDDI.
KDDI expects the first commercial 5G services to be available starting in March 2020, with 93% of coverage 5G base station areas in service by the end of March 2025.
KDDI is using Ericsson for 5G because of Japan’s decision to not use Huawei or ZTE for government contracts. Japan made the decision after the U.S., Australia and New Zealand decided to not use the Chinese vendors amid fears that information might be leaked or hacked.
Under the agreement, Ericsson will supply KDDI with radio access network, including those solutions from the Ericsson Radio System portfolio. The equipment will allow KDDI to roll out 5G services in several parts of Japan on both the sub-6 GHz and 28 GHz bands for 5G new radio.
In April, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in Japan allocated 5G spectrum to KDDI, SoftBank, NTT DOCOMO and Rakuten. Japan hopes to launch 5G services in 2020 to bring services to the major cities, as well as to the rural areas of the country.
