Gemalto has revealed that NTT DoCoMo is deploying its LTE technology solution for Xi (pronounced, ‘Crossy’), the Japanese operator’s next-generation mobile communications service.

Xi is Japan’s first wireless connectivity service based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) technologies for ultra-high-speed mobile internet and full IP networks. The service covers the major urban centers of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, with plans to reach 70 per cent of the Japanese population by March 2015.

Gemalto designed an LTE solution with Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (UICC) tailored to DoCoMo’s stringent quality and performance specifications. The Gemalto solution enhances the security and reliability of DoCoMo’s value-added multimedia services offered to its LTE network customers. Over the next three years, more than 15m DoCoMo mobile subscribers will progressively be equipped with the LTE UICC.

“We look forward to fostering our long-term trusted relationship with DoCoMo in an environment increasingly demanding new personalised services and market differentiators,” says Gemalto Asia president, Tan Teck-Lee. “DoCoMo is leading the introduction of LTE in Japan, and Gemalto is ideally placed to bring the latest in LTE technology. Working together, we will drive innovative solutions and services to enrich DoCoMo’s subscriber experience.”