A delegation comprising four representatives from the Office of State Radio Regulatory Commission (OSRRC) People’s Republic of China headed by Mr. Guo Yuhai, General Engineer, visited Japan from May 17 to 24 to evaluate various aspects of PHS service in Japan.

During their relatively short stay, the OSRRC delegation paid courtesy visits to MPT, the Radio Equipment Inspection and Certificate Institute (MKK), PHS operators, PHS retail stores, users’ locations, and other relevant organizations.
The delegation first visited the PHS MoU Group. Mr. Yoshio Iwayama, Secretary General, briefed the delegation on the Group’s activities, then Mr. Masayoshi Wakao, Vice Chairman of the Group explained the world-wide deployment and latest status of PHS. Mr. Martin Cooper, ArrayComm Inc.’s Chairman also explained about his company’s PHS business plan, and the bright future for PHS.
At MPT Headquarters, the delegation exchanged views on radio communications policies with MPT officials including Mr. Seiji Tanaka, Director-General for Radio Dept., Telecommunications Bureau. At the MKK, they were shown test equipment for verifying the technical conformity and interconnectivity of PHS terminals, and test results.

They then visited the offices of NTT Central Personal Communications Network Inc. and DDI Tokyo Pocket Telephone, Inc., where they were briefed on the outlook for PHS public service in Japan, in addition to the PHS operators’ financial status and their short to medium term business plans. The delegation also saw how nationwide PHS service networks are monitored and maintained at a technical service center.
In urban centers like Akihabara, Ginza and Shinjuku, the delegation saw large numbers of PHS terminals on display outside retail stores. They also saw many cell stations (CSs) installed in subway/train stations, on utility poles along sidewalks and inside/outside buildings. During their stay in Japan, they were each given PHS terminals to try. The excellent communications capability of the PHS terminals was useful in helping them better understand the great strengths of PHS.
At NTT Wireless Systems Laboratories, the delegation was introduced to cutting-edge PHS technologies for transmitting bulk data such as images at high speed, as well as prototypes using these technologies. The delegation saw for itself the efforts that are being made to increase PHS’s extensive penetration.
On the final day, major PHS MoU Group member manufacturers displayed and introduced a full range of their PHS products including PHS terminals and PHS Wireless Local Loop (WLL) systems to the delegates.
In fact, the group arrived in Japan with a negative image of PHS service, because in China unfounded and biased reports on PHS have been widespread, for instance: “Japan’s PHS service is on the decline,” “PHS service will be discontinued,” or “PHS service has been a failure.” However the delegation acknowledged that the PHS business in Japan has been a success, and is getting healthier.
After their visits to MPT and NTT Laboratories in particular, the delegation also came to realize that PHS is an excellent technology applicable worldwide.
Considering the fact that PHS’s status has been misunderstood in some quarters, Mr. Guo made a request to the PHS MoU Group during tour’s closing meeting, “there is a huge gap between the images we have of PHS in China and the facts we have discovered about PHS as a result of our visit to Japan.” Mr. Guo added, “PHS promotion activities in China are insufficient. The PHS MoU Group should put more energy into PHS technology awareness campaigns.”
The Chinese government is said to be considering implementation of WLL systems by allocating 2,000-MHz band frequencies to both PHS and DECT. It is said that some 20 PHS WLL field trials are underway in China and business negotiations for commercializing the WLL systems are also underway. Now the Chinese delegation has seen for itself the actual status of PHS service, frequent technological exchanges between Japan and China can be expected, promoting the rapid expansion of PHS service in China.