IP: Telecom Firm Owned by IIJ, Toyota, Sony to Offer High-Speed Services -- Japan's Qwest/Level3

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 19:27:12 +0900
To: farber () cis upenn edu
From: ajp () glocom ac jp (Adam Peake)
Subject: Japan's Qwest/Level3

Dave, perhaps of interest to IP: Toyota, Sony and IIJ form company
that hopes to be Japan's Qwest/Level3.

Adam


> From a Nikkei article:

Telecom Firm Owned by IIJ, Toyota, Sony to Offer High-Speed Services

February 1, 1999 (TOKYO) -- Crosswave Communications Inc. (CWC)
announced Jan. 26 the outline of its telecommunications services that
are slated to begin in April. CWC is a Type-1 telecom carrier set up
as a venture among Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ), Toyota Motor
Corp. and Sony Corp.

See <http://www.nikkeibp.asiabiztech.com/articles/99020106.html> for
full story

and

Press release at the Crosswave web site:
<http://www.cwc.co.jp/whatsnew/002_e.html>

Description of Services

Crosswave Communications (CWC; headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo;
president: Koichi Suzuki) today announced that it will be offering the
services described below. Inception of the services is slated for
April 1999; pricing and rates will be formally announced in March,
1999.

Business Purpose: To Bring to Market Communications Services Based on
Novel Concepts

CWC will develop a new "platform-type" high speed network based on
large-capacity, ultra-fast infrastructure designed specifically for
data communications. This will use the network as a massive plane to
offer communications services that far surpass those available with
networks built on conventional point-to-point topology. With this CWC
intends to fulfill two objectives: meet the demand created by
burgeoning data-communications traffic that accompany the rapid spread
of Internet use and proffer new paradigms in data communications
utileze networks extensively.

Proposed Services

1.High-speed backbone service

Available bandwidths: 1.5Mbps, 45Mbps, 150Mbps, 600Mbps The service
will connect any two points via high-speed circuits. In addition to
offering Japan's first 600Mbps service, with this service CWC will
also make it easier for users to build faster network environments by
offering very competitive rates.

2.Network Platform Service

The service will offer networks as a platform with topology,
bandwidth, and scale optimized to users' individual needs. All users
need to do is plug into the interface CWC provides to get access to a
network environment that perfectly fits their needs. Rates are
pending.

3.Dial-Up Port Service

This service will provide 77 dial-up port access points3 throughout
Japan. Moving forward, CWC will continue to expand its menu of
offerings. Other services on the drawing board include co-location
services, network monitoring services, and even international services
that are to be instituted in 2000 and beyond.

Service areas

CWC's services will be offered in the areas shown below over fiber
optic networks spanning across Japan. Exploitation of DWDM(*)
technology will provide 100 gigabytes of bandwidth which allow further
expansion of bandwidth in the future. This infrastructure will be
specifically for data communications.

In-Service Schedule

April 1999 Tokyo-Nagoya-Osaka corridor, Hokuriku region October 1999
Length of Japan from Hokkaido to Kyushu March 2000 All prefectures
except Okinawa


Notes: *)DWDM: Dense Wavelength Multiplexing. A format for multiplex
use of fiber-optic cables by splitting the frequency spectrum into
multiple channels. Utilizing the principle that light pulses of
differing wavelengths do not interfere with each other, this
technology enables significant increases in the volume of information
conveyed via an optical cable.


About the company CWC was founded on October 28, 1998, by Internet
Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ), Sony Corporation, and Toyota Motor
Corporation. It acquired its license as a Type I Telecommunications
Carrier on December 21, 1998. A recapitalization is planned for April
1999 that will bring the company$B!<%3(Js capitalization to about JPY 8
billion.


For Media Inquiries: Ms. Junko Higasa / CWC Public Relations Office
TEL:+81-3-5259-6300 FAX:+81-35259-6301 E-mail:press () cwc co jp


Copyright (C) Crosswave Communications Inc.,1998-1999.